Device for Releasing Automatically the Closing or Stopping Mechanism in Gas or Water Supply Pipes
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1895--Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Releasing Automatically the Closing or Stopping
Mechanism in Gas or Water Supply Pipes.
We, MAX HARFF of Koln-Ehrenfeld, in the Empire of Germany, and ADAM
SIEBERT of Niederlahnstein, in the Empire of Germany both 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 :-
This device is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a
longitudinal view, Figure 2 a plane elevation, Figure 3 a side elevation and
Figure 4 a view, partly in section, showing its application to gas pipes, Figure 5
is a side view of the device modified and adapted to water service pipes.
Its object is to automatically shut all the taps of the several burners fed by a set
of gas pipes, as soon as the main tap is closed, thus rendering it unnecessary to turn
off each of the gas jets separately.
In the case of water supply pipes, this device serves, on the contrary, to shut
the main tap in the event of one of the pipes bursting.
2'
In a tube intercalated in the gas or water pipe and which may eventually be
provided with a jet, Figure 1 there turns an axle a bearing in the interior of
this tube the lever b, b', and outside of it, the elbow lever c. The lever b,, tends
to be constantly maintained in the position shown in Figure 1, by the action of the
draw-spring & which is fixed to its forward arm b. Its rear arm carries at its
end a little roller e carrying a piston g which is pierced with a small hole at the
The latter is,
bottom and which works in the raised part of the tube r.
as far as may be practicable fastened to the wall by means of the neck, the
communication with the gas service pipes being effected by the neck ³.
The key of the tap lodged in the tube and serving to open or shut this tube,
is subjected to the action of a spring which tends continually to keep the tap
shut. On this key his keyed a gearing i which transmits its motion, multiplied
by intermediate gearings and to the wheel 3 keyed on the axle o, that is to say
to the axle o itself. The latter bears a stopping pin which is maintained or
released unfailingly by the elbow lever c and this with the utmost facility, by the
action of the mechanism which is exposed to the pressure of the gas, for which
purpose this arm c is provided with a notch c¹.
The connection between the several gearings 1, 2, 3, i, is so arranged that the
complete turning of the key may give several turns to the stopping pin n, with the
result that the tap may be opened to the extent desired, that is to say, it is
sufficient to turn the key merely a little to give a turn to the said pin or bolt.
The
When this device is intended to turn off the water in case of a rupture of one of
the pipes, it is put just behind the main tap H, intercalating it in the tube w the
arm is, in this case, furnished with an extension c² carrying a vase s.
piston g, as well as the spring d which acts on the lever disappears, whilst the
arm is loaded with a counterweight, so that it may keep this arm e² with its
vases in a raised position. The whole of the pipe w is in this case surrounded by
a casing m which is connected, in a water-tight manner, with the supply pipe, by
and lower ends.
upper
Whilst at its upper end, the casing is provided with an
opening m to allow of ventilation, it is fitted at the lower end to a small tube m²
leading into the vase or vessel s.
its
The rest of the device is exactly the same as what precedes and has been already
dosurihed

page_text: The action of the apparatus is as follows:-After the main tap is opened, thus
allowing the gas to enter the pipes, the gas by its pressure lowers the piston g
and
so causes the lever b, 61, its axle a and the arm c, the lower end of which is slightly
raised to turn. Now if the key h or the tap is turned in order to allow the gas to
reach the burner, the stopping pin will turn with its axle in a corresponding
manner to the turning of the key, this turning being permitted by the rounded stop
or catch in front, of the arm c. A backward turn of the pin n, and a consequent
closing of the tap 1, are rendered impossible as long as the pressure of the gas is
maintained, because this pin n will be resting in the notch c¹ of the arm c.
when the main tap is shut causing the pressure of the gas to cease, the spring d
draws in the lever b and the arm c; the latter releases the pin and the spring f
closes the tap h.
But
When this device is applied to water pipes, the water, in the event of a pipe
bursting, penetrates to the casing m, and flows through the tube m² into the vase s.
As soon as the latter fills sufficiently to outweigh the counterpoise of the lever b, b',
the arms b and c are lowered, the bolt or pin n frees itself again, and the tap h is
again closed allowing no more water to enter the pipes.
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.) A device for releasing automatically the closing apparatus of gas burners,
as soon as the main tap is shut, the said device being characterized by the use of a
piston g exposed to the action of the flow of gas, and when the main tap is open,
the organ for releasing the closing tap is, under the pressure of the gas kept open,
but it moves back as soon as the main tap is shut sufficiently to release this stop or
catch, the effect of which being to automatically close the said tap.
(2.) A method of executing this device, characterized by the use of a lever
which follows the motion of the piston and transmits it to the releasing organ.
(3.) The intercalation in the device as claimed, of a multiplied notion or movement
between the stop or catch and the closing organ, with the object of diminishing
the resistance of the latter.
(4.) The connection (when this device is applied to water pipes with the object
of shutting off the water in the event of a pipe bursting) of the arm e with a vase
or vessels receiving the escaped water and when it is full, causing the arm to
descend, this arm acting without the piston g and without the spring the arm cat
the same time setting free the stopping bolt or pin n the water pipe being in this
-case surrounded by a casing.
Dated
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.