AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM IN DRYING CYLINDERS AND OTHER VESSELS USED FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
thic Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE
PRESSURE OF STEAM IN DRYING CYLINDERS AND OTHER VESSELS USED FOR
SIMILAR PURPOSES."-A communication from abroad by Benaiah
Fitts, of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st March 1871.
I, WILLIAM Robert Lake, of the Firm of Hascltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
THE PRESSURE OF STEAM IN DRYING CYLINDERS AND OTHER VESSELS USED FOR
SIMILAR PURPOSES," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an apparatus for reducing and otherwise
regulating the pressure of steam where it is being drawn from a boiler

page_text: and used in drying cylinders or other vessels at a much lower pressure
or temperature than that usually maintained in the boiler. The said
apparatus is provided with a pipe through which the steam passes into
and away from a governor valve, this valve is so constructed and
balanced that it requires but little force to move it. A lever is provided
by which the valve is operated. Below the aforesaid valve is a cylinder
having a tight head at the bottom. In this cylinder is a moveable
piston, and attached to this piston is a diaphragm which is also attached
to the cylinder, thus making the piston perfectly water-tight while
allowing it to move with perfect freedom. The piston rod supports a
weighted lever which is connected by a rod to the governor valve lover,
so that as the weighted lever rises it closes the said valve. An upright
column forms a reservoir of water and receives its supply from con-
densed steam through an open passage to the pipe; there is also an
open passage from the base of the reservoir to the cylinder between
the piston and cylinder head. This reservoir or column also serves
the purpose of holding the cylinder, valve, and other parts in their
relative positions.
It is obvious that the piston and diaphragm must sustain the pressure
of water in the reservoir, and also the pressure of steam in the pipe and
if the weight is not sufficient to hold the piston down the weight lever
rises carrying with it the valve lever and closing the valve, and thus
regulating the pressure or the quantity allowed to pass through the pipe.
Thus it will be seen that the pressure in the pipe will be governed by
the weight placed upon the weight lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 31st August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, 3
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give 3

page_text: and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
exccutors, administrators, and 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 Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARTUS FOR REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM IN DRYING CYLINDERS AND
OTHER VESSELS USED FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES," a communication to me from
abroad by Benaiah Fitts, of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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.
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates to an apparatus for reducing and otherwise
regulating the pressure of steam where it is being drawn from a boiler
and used in drying cylinders or other vessels at a much lower pressure
or temperature than that usually maintained in the boiler. The said
apparatus is provided with a pipe through which the steam passes into
and away from a governor valve; this valve is so constructed and
balanced that it requires but little force to move it.
A lever is pro-
vided by which the valve is operated. Below the aforesaid valve is
a cylinder having a tight head at the bottom. In this cylinder is a
moveable piston, and attached to this piston is a diaphragm, which is
also attached to the cylinder, thus making the piston perfectly water-
tight while allowing it to move with perfect freedom. The piston rod
supports a weighted lever, which is connected by a rod to the governor
valve lever so that as the weighted lever rises it closes the said valve.

page_text: It will be seen that when the pressure of steam or fluid in the pipe m
is sufficient to raise the piston and weighted lever it will also move the
valve lever, closing the valve, and thus reducing the pressure. It will
be seen further that the pressure of steam in the pipe m will always
be just in proportion to the weight on the lever.
The peculiar construction of the governor valve a constitutes a very
important part of this apparatus. It is fully shewn in Figures 3, 4, 5,
and 6. It opens and closes by the rotation of the valve or stem x about
onc-eighth of its circumference, and is fitted tight to the seat, thus
requiring no stuffing box. The steam passing twice through the valve
as shewn by the arrows, the valve is perfectly balanced, and therefore
moves with perfect freedom under all circumstances.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim, the improved apparatus for
regulating the pressure of steam in drying cylinders and other vessels,
substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, havo here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Thirty-first day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
onc.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
W. ROB™. LAKE. (L.S.)