Improvements in Governors for Regulating and Governing the Supply of Gas.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 18th Oct., 1887.
Improvements in Governors for Regulating and Governing the
Supply of Gas.
I, JOSEPH SHAW, of Lockwood, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Brass Finisher, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR
BEGULATING AND GOVERNING THE SUPPLY OF GAS," to be as follows:-
My invention relates to governors for regulating and governing the supply of gas
and consists-Firstly-in arranging the equilibrium valve and parts connected there-
with so that they can be easily and readily removed from the governor to be cleaned
or repaired, and be placed back again, without disturbing or removing the body of
the governor from the inlet and outlet pipes, and without in any way interfering with
the proper and true working of the parts. Secondly in constructing the valve spindle
in two or more parts hinged together or ball jointed so that the upper part-on which
is placed the weights-may be free to move out of a perpendicular position, without
interferring with the perpendicular position of the lower part of the spindle which
carries the equilibrium valve; whereby friction on the valve spindle when the
governor is fixed a little out of plumb is avoided; or instead of the spindle being
made ball jointed, the valve may be ball jointed, or the spindle, or both spindle and
valve may be ball jointed; and Thirdly to the method of conducting the gas from the
valves and distributing it equally against the top of the float or inverted cup which
floats in mercury in the governor, for the purpose of ensuring more perfect and
reliable working of the governor.
In order to carry out my invention I employ the ordinary equilibrium valve and
enclose it in a suitably shaped cage or jacket, which cage or jacket is screwed into the
centre of the governor. The cage is covered by a metal cap which also supports and
guides the valve spindle; and above the metal cap and secured in the centre to the
valve spindle is a float or inverted cup floating in mercury or other suitable liquid
contained in an annular channel formed in the casing of the
governor. The governor
is closed by a suitably shaped dome or cover, and when the valves and parts connected
therewith require cleaning or repairing, this dome is removed and metal cap and cage
unscrewed from the governor, so that they can be cleaned or repaired and placed

page_text: back again without disconnecting the governor from the service pipes, and without
interfering with the proper and efficient working of the valve and parts. If the
valve or cage, or both should be destroyed, they can be replaced by new ones,
accurately fitted at little expense.
I also construct the valve spindle in two parts connected together-above the float
or inverted cup by a ball-joint, the lower part carrying the valves, and the upper
part carrying the weights which are employed to weight the valves according to
resistance required for supplying the necessary pressure of gas.
By constructing the valve spindle in two separate parts and connecting them
together by a ball joint, the lower part of the spindle is always kept in its perpendicular
position whether the governor is fixed out of plumb or not; whereby friction on the
spindle and consequently improper working of the parts is prevented, or instead of
the spindle being ball jointed the valves may be ball jointed at the part where they
are attached to the spindle, or both spindles and valves may be ball jointed for
purposes aforesaid.
The equal distribution of gas to the inside of the float or inverted cup I accomplish
by forming a number of bell mouthed openings in the metal cap covering the cage, so
that the quantity of gas admitted to all parts of the float is substantially the same
whereby the valves and float work more in unison and better command and govern
the supply of gas. The gas which passes through the bell mouthed openings to the
float also returns back through such openings and is conducted to the outlet pipe.
The metal cap may be suitably shaped so that if the governor should be tilted and
the mercury rushed to one side, it can pass over such cap but will be prevented from
entering between the valve spindle and the opening in the cap through which such
spindle passes.
Dated this 16th day of December 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Governors for Regulating and Governing the
Supply of Gas.
I, JOSEPH SHAW of Lockwood near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Brass Finisher, 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:—
My invention relates to governors for regulating and governing the supply of gas
and consists-Firstly-in arranging the equilibrium valve and parts connected
therewith so that they can be easily and readily removed from the governor to be
cleaned or repaired, and placed back again, without disturbing or removing the body
of the governor from the inlet and outlet pipes, and without in any way interfering
with the proper and true working of the parts; Secondly, in constructing the valve
spindle in two or more parts, hinged together, or ball jointed, so that the upper part
(on which the weights are placed) may be free to move out of a perpendicular postion,
without interfering with the perpendicular position of the lower part of the spindle
which carries the equilibrium valve, whereby friction on the valve spindle, when the
governor is fixed a little out of plumb, is avoided; or instead of the spindle being
made ball-jointed, the valves may be ball-jointed on the spindle, or both spindle and
valves may be ball-jointed; and Thirdly, to the method of conducting the gas from
the valves and distributing it equally against the top of the float or inverted cup,
which floats in mercury in the governor, for the purpose of ensuring the more perfect
and reliable working of the governor.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed more
particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the accompanying sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Fig. is section of a gas governor or regulator shewing the manner of arranging
and fixing the equilibrium valve and parts connected therewith in the interior of the
governor, so that they can be easily and readily removed therefrom to be cleaned, or
repaired and replaced again without disturbing or removing the body of the governor
from the inlet and outlet pipes; Fig. 2, is similar section, shewing the valve spindle
in two parts, connected together by a ball joint; and Fig. 3 is part section and part
elevation shewing the valves and parts connected therewith removed from the
governor.
A is the body or casing of a gas governor or regulator constructed according to
my invention, B and C are valves forming the ordinary equilibrium valve, and D is
the valve spindle. E is a cage, the upper and lower ends of which form valve
seatings for the valves B, C such cage being made secure by screw threads a formed
on the lower end thereof which corresponds to a screw thread 6 formed in the
central portion of the casing A; or they may be secured in any other convenient
manner. A flange c is also formed on the upper end of the cage, so that when the

page_text: said cage is screwed firmly into its place (as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2) the flange rests
upon the
upper face of the central portion of the casing thereby preventing the
passage of gas between the cage and the casing when the valves are closed.
The cage E is covered by a metal cap F screwed into the casing at d such cap
acting as a support and guide to the spindle D. Above the cap F and secured to the
valve spindle is a float or inverted cup G floating in mercury or other suitable liquid
contained in the annular channel H formed in the casing A. e and are supports,
extending from the cage E for the purpose of supporting and guiding the valve
spindle D. When the parts are properly fixed and adjusted, the lid or dome I is
secured by screws, or other suitable means, to the body of the casing. A second dome
or lid J is also employed, so that the valves can be weighted as and when required by
placing weights K on the upper end of the valve spindle, this being done without
having to remove the dome I.
By the arrangement and construction of a gas governor as above described, it will
be seen that when the working parts of the governor require cleaning, repairing or
otherwise renewing, it is only necessary to remove the dome I, unscrew the cap F
and cage E, when the whole of such working parts can be easily removed from the
casing (see Fig. 3,) cleaned, repaired or renewed, and then placed back again,
without having to disconnect the governor from the service pipes, and without
interfering with the proper and efficient working of the valves and parts connected
therewith.
My invention relates, secondly, to the constructiom of the valve spindle in two
or more parts or pieces hinged together, or ball-jointed, the lower part carrying the
valves and the upper part carrying the weights which are employed to weight
the valves according to resistance required for supplying the necessary pressure
of gas. ()
This part of my invention is shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, the former of which shews a
section, and the latter an elevation, of the joint.
D is the valve spindle constructed in two or more parts, the lower part, or that
part carrying the valves B and C, terminating in a cup g into which enters a ball h
secured to, or forming the lower end of the second part of the spindle. The ball his
secured within the cup by a bush screwed into the cup g, sufficient clearance being
allowed for the free lateral movement of the upper part of the valve spindle.
By constructing the valve spindle in two or more separate parts or pieces, and
connecting them together by a ball, or similar form of joint, as herein described and
shewn, the upper part of the spindle which carries the weights K is free to move out
of a perpendicular position without interfering with the perpendicular position of the
lower part of the spindle, which carries the equilibrium valve, whereby, friction on
the lower portion of the valve spindle, when the governor is fixed a little out of plumb,
and consequently improper working of the parts are avoided. Instead of the spindle
being ball-jointed, as explained, the valves may be ball-jointed at the point where they
are attached to the spindle, or both spindle, and valves may be ball-jointed, for
purposes aforesaid.
My invention relates, thirdly, to the means for equally distributing the gas to all
parts of the float, so that the valves and float will work in unison and better
command and govern the supply of gas.
This part of my invention is shewn in section in Figs. 1 and 2, and in plan
view Fig. 4, and consists in forming a number of bell-mouthed openings in the
metal cap F. The gas enters the regulator at either, or both of the inlet pipes L, M,
and passes into the cage E, from which a portion issues through the valve B to the
outlet pipe Nthe remainder passing through the valve Cland through the bell-mouthed
openings in the cap F to the inside of the float G, from which it returns through the
said openings to the outlet pipe N. If the pressure of gas be equal, the valves and
float remain stationary, the valves being open as shewn in Fig. 1, but as soon as the
pressure begins to increase, it causes the float G, and consequently the valves B and C,
to rise and so lessen or reduce the quantity of gas passing through the regulator, and
if the supply is not equal to the demand, the absence of the necessary pressure will

page_text: at once allow the float to lower, thereby opening the valves still further and allowing
a larger quantity of gas to pass through the governor.
By forming a number of bell mouthed openings, in the metal cap F, the gas passing
through the governor is distributed equally to all parts of the float whereby the
slightest fluctuation in the pressure of gas admitted to the governor is at once
communicated to the float, which rises or falls, as the case may be, and therefore opens
or closes the valves, so as to increase or reduce the supply of gas, by which means
the supply of gas is automatically regulated according to the demand, and the waste,
damage to furniture and other effects, and injury to health occasioned by the escape
of unconsumed gas entirely prevented.
The upper portion of the metal cap F may be suitably curved or shaped so that if
the governor should be tilted and the mercury in the annular channel H caused to
rush to one side, such mercury will be prevented from entering or passing through
the openings & to the inside of the governor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
Firstly The method of securing the cage E, and cap F (either jointly or separately)
by means of screw threads or other means to the interior of the body or casing of a
gas governor for the purpose of enabling the valves and parts connected therewith to
be easily and readily removed from the governor, cleaned repaired or renewed, and
placed back again without disturbing or removing the body of the governor from the
inlet and outlet pipes, substantially as shewn and described.
Secondly In a gas governor, the construction of the valve spindle in two or more
parts or pieces connected together by ball or similar form of joints for purposes
substantially as described.
Thirdly In a gas governor the use and employment of bell mouthed openings,
such as formed in a metal cap, such as F, for purposes substantially as herein
set forth.
Th: 1011 J