IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OR PRESSURE OF GASES, VAPOURS, OR LIQUIDS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank William Clark, of Millbank Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OR PRESSURE OF GASES, VAPOURS, OR
LIQUIDS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1881.
FRANK WILLIAM CLARK, of Millbank Street, in the City of Westminster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OR
PRESSURE OF GASES, VAPOURS, OR LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to apparatus for regulating the flow or pressure of gases,
vapours, or liquids, in which the said gases, vapours, or liquids do not pass through
the apparatus, and the improved apparatus is particularly useful in automatically
reducing very high pressures to any desired low pressure.
A suitable arrangement for carrying out my Invention is the following:
In a receiver or vessel of cylindrical or other suitable shape I place another
concentric vessel, open at the bottom and reaching nearly the bottom of the first
named receiver or vessel, a suitable space also being left between the two vessels.
In the inner vessel works a heavy weight or plunger, the rod of which passes
through the cover of the apparatus; the upper end of the said rod is connected by
a link or lever to a cock or valve in the inlet pipe, and the outlet pipe is placed in
communication with the outer receiver. A suitable quantity of mercury is placed
in the receiver, the outer circumference of the inner receiver being formed with a
flange as a guard to prevent the mercury splashing.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
Gas or other vapour or liquid at a very high pressure passing into the inlet and
through the cock or valve into the outlet pipe will by means of the hereinbefore
described communication between the latter and the receiver press on the surface
of the mercury in the space between the inner and outer receivers, forcing it into
the inner receiver, thereby raising the weight or plunger and consequently closing
or partly closing the cock or valve so as to reduce the pressure, which may be
regulated to any required degree. If the pressure falls below the required degree
the weight or plunger will fall and open the cock or valve.
Instead of employing two concentric receivers, as hereinbefore described, they
may be arranged side by side or otherwise, as will be understood.
Where the apparatus is to be used for low pressures, employ a liquid of
less specific gravity than mercury, also a less heavy weight or plunger.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th October 1881.
'
FRANK WILLIAM CLARK, of Millbank Street, in the City of Westminster,
Engineer.. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OR
PRESSURE OF GASES, VAPOURS, OR LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to apparatus for regulating the flow or pressure of gases,
vapours, or liquids, in which the said gases, vapours, or liquids do not pass through
the apparatus, and the improved apparatus is particularly useful in automatically
reducing very high pressures to any desired low pressure.
A suitable arrangement for carrying out my Invention is the following:-
: In a receiver or vessel of cylindrical or other suitable shape I place another
concentric vessel, open at the bottom and reaching nearly to the bottom of the first
named receiver or vessel, a suitable space also being left between the two vessels.
In the inner vessel works a weight or plunger, the rod of which passes through
the cover of the apparatus; the upper end of the said rod is connected by a link
or lever to a cock or valve in the inlet pipe, and the outlet pipe is placed in
communication with the outer receiver. A suitable quantity of mercury is placed
in the receiver, the outer circumference of the inner receiver being formed with a
flange as a guard to prevent the mercury splashing.
But to make my Invention better understood I will now proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation
and Figure 2 a plan of an apparatus constructed according to my Invention, and
specially applicable for regulating the flow or pressure of gas when used for
lighting railway carriages; Figure 3 is a vertical section on line A, B, of Figure 2,
and Figure 4 is à horizontal section on line C, D, of Figure 3. Similar letters in
all the Figures represent similar parts.
a is the outer receiver or case formed with a flange b at the top; c is the inner
vessel, open at the bottom and concentric with the case a; it is also formed with a
flanged at the top, which flange passes over the flange band between it and the
cover e, the whole being fastened together by belts f, as shewn; g is the space
between the two vessels a and c; h is the weight or plunger; i, the rod of the
same passing through the cover c; j is the link or lever connecting the upper end
of the rod with the valve or cock in the inlet pipe l; m is the outlet pipe
communicating by means of the branch n with the space g; o is the flange on the
outer circumference of the vessel c, forming a guard to prevent the splashing of the
mercury placed in the apparatus.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
Gas (or other vapour or liquid) passing into the inlet and through the cock or
valve into the outlet pipe m will, by means of the herein before described
communication formed by the branch n between the outlet pipe m and the
receiver a, press on the surface of the mercury in the space g between the inner
and outer receivers, forcing the mercury into the inner receiver or vessel c, thereby
raising the weight or plunger h and rod i, and consequently closing or partly
closing the cock or valve k by means of the rod or lever j, so as to reduce the
pressure, and which pressure may be regulated to any required degree. If the
pressure falls below the required degree the weight or plunger h will fall and
operate the cock or valve in the opposite direction to that hereinbefore described
and thereby increase the pressure. When no gas is being consumed the cock or
valve k entirely closes under the pressure.
It will be understood that instead of employing two concentric receivers, as

page_text: herein before described and represented in the Drawing, the receivers may be
arranged side by side or otherwise, as will be understood, without departing from
the principle of my Invention.
Where the apparatus is to be used for low pressures I employ a liquid of less
specific gravity than mercury, also a less heavy weight or plunger.
I would here remark that in the case of the valve or cock k or the plunger
becoming fixed, thereby causing overpressure, the gas (or other vapour or liquid)
would blow through the mercury or other liquid, so that an apparatus constructed
according to my improvements is not liable to injury from over pressure, and acts
as a safety valve.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect,. I would have it understood that I
do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the
accompanying Drawing, as the same may obviously be varied without departing
from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do claim is,-
The construction and employment of the improved apparatus herein described
for regulating the flow or pressure of gases, vapours, or liquids, without the said
gases, vapours, or liquids passing through the apparatus, the apparatus being
arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and represented in the accompanying Drawing, or any more
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank William Clark, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street,
Finsbury.
FRANK W. CLARK. (L.S.)