IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Edward Hearson, of No. 115, Southwark Street,
in the County of Surrey, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Edward Hearson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1879.
CHARLES EDWARD HEARSON, of No. 115, Southwark Street, in the County of
Surrey, Gas Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS."
My Invention relates to that kind of gas governors or gas regulators known as
consumers' governors."
16
A gas governor of this kind as ordinarily constructed consists of a box in the cover
or top of which is an opening of sufficient size to admit of the free entrance and exit
of air, the interior of which box is divided horizontally into two compartments by a
fixed diaphragm in which is an opening provided with a valve, the lower compart-
ment of the box communicating with the pipe through which the gas enters, and the
upper compartment communicating with the pipe through which the gas passes
from the box. The upper compartment is divided horizontally by a weighted
flexible diaphragm to which the valve is connected, which valve is raised towards
its seat to a greater or less extent according to the pressure of the gas, which as it
passes through the box raises the flexible diaphragm.
In practice this apparatus is attended by the following defects:-1. When the
pressure of gas is considerable and the valve is raised so far as nearly to close the
opening in the fixed diaphragm, the gas pressing on the underside of the valve
causes it to fly up to its seating and entirely stop the supply of gas to the burners
for a time, and consequently to extinguish the lights; the valve then falls, and the
gas escapes from the open pipes unconsumed. 2. The valve seating being of a form
corresponding with that of the valve, the latter sometimes becomes fixed owing to
the comparatively large surfaces, in contact on which surfaces tarry matters are
deposited by the gas. 3. The rod by which the valve is connected to the flexible
diaphragm being supported only by the said diaphragm, the soft metal seating is
frequently injured by the friction thereon of the said rod when the apparatus is

page_text: being carried from place to place, and the action of the valve is thereby rendered
very imperfect.
My Invention consists partly of the following improvements by which the said
defects are obviated:-1 form the aperture by which air enters and passes from the
box so small that the free motion of the flexible diaphragm is prevented owing to
the slow passage of air through the said aperture. The sudden closing of the valve
and the consequent extinction of the lights at the burners is thus prevented. In
order to prevent the fixing of the valve on its seating, I make the said seating of a
conical form, the valve being of the ordinary hemispherical form. The surfaces in
contact when the valve is closed are consequently so small that the resistance
offered to their separation by the accumulation of adhesive matter thereon is not
sufficient to interfere with the proper working of the valve. In order to avoid the
injury to the valve seating hereinbefore referred to, I form tubular chambers or
guards in the interior of the box, one at the upper and one at the lower part
thereof, which chambers or guards enclose or surround the upper and lower parts
of the valve rod and keep it from contact with the said seating.
My Invention consists further of an improved arrangement for connecting the
ventilating pipe to the upper part of the governor, which pipe is ordinarily con-
nected by means of a "gas union," the air passing from and to the interior of the
governor through a short tube or nozzle projecting from the top of the said
governor, to which nozzle the "gas union is screwed. According to my im-
provements I solder the end of the ventilating pipe to a short branch tube formed
on a metal socket, the interior of which tube communicates with the interior of the
said socket, which I place on the top of the governor and around the said nozzle,
in the side of which nozzle I form the small aperture or air hole hereinbefore
referred to, and I secure the said socket in its place by means of a cap which I
screw onto the said nozzle. The said socket is of such a size internally that when
so placed and secured an annular space or passage is left between it and the said
nozzle, which space or passage communicates with the ventilating pipe by means of
the branch tube, and with the interior of the governor by means of the sinall
aperture herein before referred to. This arrangement besides being simpler and
cheaper than the gas union ordinarily used, admits of the connection being very
readily made where the gas pipes are fixed in confined situations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Edward Hearson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
May 1880.
CHARLES EDWARD HEARSON, of No. 115, Southwark Street, in the County of
Surrey, Gas Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS."
My Invention relates to that kind of gas governors or regulators known as
consumers' governors.
A gas governor of this kind, as ordinarily constructed, consists of a box, in the
cover or top of which is an opening of sufficient size to admit of the free entrance
and exit of air, the interior of which box is divided horizontally into two com-
partments by a fixed diaphragm, in which is an opening provided with a valve,
the lower compartment of the box communicating with the pipe, through which
the gas enters, and the upper compartment communicating with the pipe, through
which the gas passes from the box. The upper compartment is divided horizontally
by a weighted flexible diaphragm, to which the valve is connected, which valve is
raised towards its seat to a greater or less extent, according to the pressure of the
gas, which as it passes through the box raises the flexible diaphragın.
In practice this apparatus is attended by the following defects:-1. When the
pressure of gas is considerable, and the valve is raised so far as nearly to close the
opening in the fixed diaphragm, the gas pressing on the underside of the valve
causes it to fly up to its seating and entirely stop the supply of gas to the burners
for a time, and consequently to extinguish the lights. The valve then falls, and
the gas escapes from the open pipes unconsumed." 2. The valve seating being of
a form corresponding with that of the valve, the latter sometimes becomes fixed,
owing to the comparatively large surfaces in contact, on which surfaces tarry
matters are deposited by the gas. 3. The rod by which the valve is connected to
the flexible diaphragm, being supported only by the said diaphragm, the soft metal
seating is frequently injured by the friction thereon of the said rod when the
apparatus is being carried from place to place, and the action of the valve is thereby
rendered very imperfect.
My Invention consists partly of the following improvements, by which the said
defects are obviated :-I form the aperture, by which air enters and passes from the
box, so small that the free motion of the flexible diaphragm is prevented owing to
the slow passage of air through the said aperture. The sudden closing of the
valve, and the consequent extinction of the lights at the burners is thus prevented.
In order to prevent the fixing of the valve on its seating, I make the said seating
of a conical form, the valve being of the ordinary hemispherical or nearly hemi-
spherical form. The surfaces in contact, when the valve is closed, are consequently
so small that the resistance offered to their separation by the accumulation of
adhesive matter thereon is not sufficient to interfere with the proper working of
the valve. In order to avoid the injury to the valve seating hereinbefore referred
to, I form tubular chambers or guards in the interior of the box, one at the upper
and one at the lower part thereof, which chambers or guards enclose or surround
the upper and lower parts of the valve rod, and keep it from contact with the said
seating.
My Invention consists, further, of an improved arrangement for connecting the
ventilating pipe to the upper part of the governor, which pipe is ordinarily con-
nected by means of a & gas union," the air passing from and to the interior of the
governor through a short tube or nozzle projecting from the top of the said governor,
to which nozzle the " gas union" is screwed. According to my improvements I
solder the end of the ventilating pipe to a short branch tube formed on a metal
socket, the interior of which tube communicates with the interior of the said socket,

page_text: which I place on the top of the governor and around the nozzlo aforesaid, in the
side of which nozzle I form the small aperture or air hole herein before referred to,
and I secure the said socket in its place by means of a cap, which I screw onto
the said nozzle. The said socket is of such a size internally that when so placed
and secured an annular space or passage is left between it and the said nozzle,
which space or passage communicates with the ventilating pipe by means of the
branch tube, and with the interior of the governor by means of the small aperture
hereinbefore referred to. This arrangement, beside being simpler and cheaper
than the gas union ordinarily used, admits of the connection being very readily
made where the gas pipes are fixed in confined situations.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
the manner in which it is to be performed, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
The same letters and figures of reference indicate the same parts in the several
Figures of the Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 is a section
(taken on the line 1, Figure 1) of a gas governor to which my improvements aro
applied. a, a, a, are the parts constituting the shell or case of the governor, which
parts are screwed together by screws at a³, as, the part a² being provided with
screwed openings a, a³, into which the pipes for conveying gas to and from the
governor are screwed; b is the fixed diaphragm cast in one with the part a², and c
is the flexible leather diaphragm which is secured at its periphery between the
parts a¹ and a² of the shell or case; d is the valve spindle on to which the valve d
is screwed, the said valve and spindle being secured to the leather diaphragm c by
the screw nut e and weight e' which are screwed on to the said spindle, binding
the centre portion of the leather diaphragm between them; f is the valve seating
which is secured to the fixed diaphragm b by screws f¹, f, the said valve seating
surrounding the aperture by which the upper and lower compartments of the case
communicate. That part of the valve seating against which the valve bears when
it is raised to close the opening is of a conical form, and that part of the valve
which bears against the said seating is of a convex forin or of the form of part of
a sphere. By thus forming the said valve and its seating they are rendered less
liable to adhere when brought into contact by the pressure of the gas passing
through the apparatus than when (as usual) they are of corresponding forin.
g is a socket or tube formed on a plate g¹ which is secured by screws g², g², over
an opening in the lower part of the shell or case, the said socket surrounding the
lower part of the valve spindle d, and supporting the valve d' when in its normal
position, as shown in the Drawing; h is a tube or nozzle screwed into an opening
in the cover a of the shell, the lower part of which tube surrounds the upper part
of the valve spindle d; i is the socket which surrounds the upper part of the tube
or nozzle h, and it is the branch tube which is formed on the said socket, com-
municates with the interior thereof, and to which the ventilating pipe is soldered
when the apparatus is fixed for use.
By thus surrounding or enclosing the upper and lower parts of the valve spindle
its screwed part is prevented from rubbing against and injuring the valve seating.
jis the cap which screws onto and closes the upper part of the nozzle h, and
binds the socket i firmly in its place; 1, 2, are washers of paper or other suitable
material placed between the said cap and socket and the cover a of the case in
order to form a tight joint when the cap is screwed home.
This arrangement of the tube or nozzle h and socket is cheaper than the gas
union ordinarily used, and greatly facilitates the securing of the ventilating pipe to
the apparatus, especially where the pipes to which it is to be connected are in
confined situations.
is the aperture in the tube or nozzle through which air from the interior of
the case or shell passes (when the diaphragm is raised) into the annular space s
between the socket and nozzle, whence it passes by the branch tube i¹ to the
ventilating pipe (not shown in the Drawings).

page_text: Owing to the small size of the aperture ¹ the passage of air from the interior of
the shell is impeded, and the sudden closing of the valve and the consequent
extinction of the lights is thereby prevented.
Instead of this arrangement any other arrangement which will impede the
passage of air from the interior of the governor may be used, such, for instance,
as a packing of cloth, wool, or other permeable material.
The position of the valve d' and diaphragm b when they are raised by gas (at a
moderate pressure) passing through the apparatus is indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 3. The arrows indicate the direction in which the gas passes.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Gas
Governors or Regulators," and the manner in which it is to be performed, I wish
it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details hereinbefore
described, as they may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention, but I claim as my said Invention,-
Firstly. Forming the acting part of the valve of a gas governor convex or of the
form of a portion of a sphere, and forming the acting part of the valve seating
conical, and arranging guards around the upper and lower parts of the spindle of
the said valve, and contracting or obstructing the passage by which air passes to
and from the interior of the governor, the said improvements being combined in
one apparatus, essentially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Secondly. The arrangement herein before described for facilitating the connection
of the ventilating pipes with gas governors, that is to say, forming on or affixing to
the top of a gas governor a tube or nozzle, and placing over or around the said
nozzle a socket or short tube, on which is formed a branch tube, and securing the
said socket in its place by a screw cap, essentially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Edward Hearson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.