Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
Gases.
234 WAW
I, RICHARD MATCHETT of No. 454 Collins Street, Melbourne, in the Colony
of Victoria, Australia, Grazier, 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 invention has been devised to provide improved means or apparatus by
which liquids or gases under pressure may during their reticulation be automatically
reduced to the proportion required.
Although my invention may be applied to other liquids or gases I shall, for
simplicity of explanation, describe it with reference to reducing the pressure of
carbonic acid gas when it is desired to apply this gas to beer or wine previous to
their being supplied to customers.
In order that my invention may be the more easily understood, reference may be
made to the accompanying drawing in which-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation whilst―
Figure 2 is a plan of my apparatus with some portions removed for the sake of
clearness.
"
In these drawings "A" (Fig. 2), represents a cylindrical shell or casing of
metal, preferably brass, having attached thereto an inlet tube "B," and its con-
nections an outlet tube "C," a pressure gauge "D," and its parts, and a safety
valve "E" and its parts. "F" (Figs. 1 and 2) is a metal cover arranged to screw
by a peripheral thread at "F1" into the enlarged portion of casing "A." A portion
of " "F at "F" is squared or faced to permit a spanner to grasp it for the purpose
of screwing "F" home. Into the top of "F" a screw thread "F3" is set for the
purpose of receiving a screw plug "G." This latter plug "G" terminates in a small
shank "G" around and below which a spiral spring "H" is set and so arranged
as to exert a downward pressure upon a gripper plate "I." Under this gripper
plate "1" is a circular plate "K" preferably constructed of red rubber. This
circular plate completely divides and separates the upper from the lower portion
of the casing "A," and is of the full inner diameter of the enlarged part of the
said casing "A." "K" is kept in position by a metal ring "K," the latter being
jambed by the screw pressure of the cap "F" at "F" On the under side of this
circular plate "K" is another gripper plate "L" which exerts a vertical thrust so
as to grip the rubber plate between itself and the gripper "I." The upward
pressure of "L" is brought about by the spring
M beneath pressing
vertically against it. It will be noticed that the shank "L¹," of "L" is screwed
and has mounted upon it one arm of a lever "N" and a lock-nut "L." The
spring "M" terminates at the bottom on a screw plug "O," which screws into the
casing at "A1"
"
Reverting to the lever "N" (see Fig. 1), it will be noticed that it is centered
at "N" in an upright "N'," said upright being either screwed in or otherwise
fastened to the casing at "A" The outer end of the lever "N" terminates in a
pad or valve "P," and is so arranged that it will rise and fall with the movement
of the lever, upon the valve seat "R." This latter is preferably constructed in
the form illustrated, but I would have it understood that I do not confine myself.
arbitrarily to the exact arrangement of the valve and its seating. "R" is attached
to or set in the inlet tube "B," which is secured to the casing at "A³."

page_text: "T" is a screwed union to which the high pressure supply is attached a
washer "T" of rubber or similar material being employed to assist in forming
an air-tight joint.
"C" (Fig. 2), is an outlet tube leading from the chamber beneath the
division "K," and from which is led away the low pressure gas. "D" (Fig. 2) is
a pressure gauge having a passage "DI".also communicating with the chamber
below the division plate "K," its position being also shown (on Fig. 1) by dotted
circles "D¹."
"E" (Fig. 1) is an inverted spring safety valve, having a communication "El"
with the interior of the casing "A," and the pressure upon its escape valve being
«E,"
regulated by the spring "E2" the strain of which is adjusted by the screw
which latter is provided with a milled head "E.”
The modus operandi of my invention is as follows:-
"
Presume that carbonic acid gas at a pressure of 100 lbs. per square inch is to
enter at "T" and that it is desired to be drawn off at the outlet "C" at 5 lbs. per
square inch, the gas enters and passes along through "T" "B" and "R," and
escapes into and fills the chamber beneath "K" and makes its exit by "C"
whence it is led to the wine or beer requiring treatment.
When the wine or beer
in the cask has become sufficiently charged, or will not absorb the gas quickly
enough the pressure in the chamber under "K" will begin to rise until it reaches
the predetermined point for which the pressure of the springs "H" and "M"
have been adjusted, (that is to say about 5 lbs. per square inch as will be seen on
the gauge "D,") the slighest further increase of pressure will cause the circular
rubber plate "K" to rise or expand vertically and carry with it the gripper "L"
and synchronously its shank "L" and lever "N," so that the latter will close the
valve "P" upon the valve seat "R" and thus prevent any further ingress of the
gas at such valve seat until such time as the pressure gets below the point required,
when the high pressure gas will again enter to make up for any deficiency in the
low pressure supply. The state of the pressure in the chamber under "K" can
be seen by a glance at the gauge "D."
In adjusting my apparatus to deliver the gas or liquid at the required reduced
pressure as will be shown upon the gauge "D" the screw plugs "G" and “O”
are carefully operated so that spring "M" on the one hand may have sufficient
compression to quickly push the lever "N" upward, (when the downward strain
of "H" has been overcome by the pressure under "K") and on the other hand
that a sufficient compression is given to "H" so that "I" will not permit "K" to
rise until the required pressure under it has been arrived at.
I do not confine myself to the employment of any particular material for the
construction of my apparatus, but in practice I have found gun metal to be suitable.
I would also point out that where certain injurious or corrosive gases or liquids
under pressure require to be reduced by my apparatus the parts might be formed
of special material such as vulcanite for instance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
1. In apparatus for reducing the pressure of liquids and gases:
"
In combination a casing as "A," inlet and outlet tubes as "B" and "C" plate
as "K" grippers as "I" and "L" adjustable springs as "H" and "M a centred
lever as "N" valve as "P" and valve seat as "R" substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. In apparatus for reducing the pressure of liquids and gases:
"
In combination springs as "H" and "M" screw plugs as "G and "O" plate
as "K" and centred lever as "N" valve as "P" and valve seat as "R"
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
دو
3
3. In apparatus for reducing the pressure of liquids and gases:
In combination casing as
« A springs as "H" and "M screw cap as "F"

page_text: plate as "K" centred lever as "N valve as "P" valve seat as "R" safety
valve as "E" and pressure gauge as "D" substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
4. In apparatus for reducing the pressure of liquids and gases:
The general combination and arrangement of the several parts substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 15th day of January 1897.
RICHARD MATCHETT.
Marks & Clerk,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.