Improved Means for Operating or Controlling Valves and like Apparatus from a Distance.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 13th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Operating or Controlling Valves and like
Apparatus from a Distance.
I, WALTER KERR, of 7, St. Anne's Terrace, Harlesden, in the County of Middle-
sex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved means for operating or controlling gas and
other valves, electric switches and the like from a distance by means of momentary
increments or decrements of fluid-pressure. The main object of my said invention
is to provide a device of this kind which will operate efficiently with either high
or low pressures.
In my improved apparatus, an actuating piston or diaphragm working in a
cylinder is combined with step-by-step mechanism and is so arranged that it will
be moved in one direction when subjected on one side to increased fluid-pressure,
and in the reverse direction when the pressure is diminished or a vacuum or
partial vacuum is created in the cylinder on the same side of the said piston or
diaphragm. The said piston or diaphragm and the step-by-step mechanism are
preferably so constructed and arranged that the gas or other valve or the like con-
nected with the said mechanism will be moved in one and the same direction
whether the said piston or diaphragm be actuated by increased pressure or by a
vacuum.
My improved controlling device comprises a closed cylinder or casing in which
works a single flexible diaphragm or preferably a piston that is kept fluid-tight
by suitable metallic or other packing-rings provided around the same. This
piston or diaphragm is held approximately midway between the ends of the
cylinder by means of suitable springs weights or cushions on one or both sides
thereof.
In one form or arrangement of my improved apparatus, the piston-rod extends
from both sides of the piston, one part of the said rod passing through one end
of the cylinder and being connected to the mechanism hereinafter mentioned for
operating the valve, switch or the like: the other part of the said piston-rod
works in a suitable closed recess or guide formed in the other end of the
cylinder. The interior of the cylinder on one side of the said piston or diaphragm
is in communication through a suitable port or passage with the pipe or conduit
containing the fluid whereby the said piston or diaphragm is to be actuated. If
the pressure on this side of the piston be increased, the piston will move so that
one of the said springs will be compressed; if, on the other hand, the pressure be
decreased, the piston will move in the reverse direction and the other spring will
be compressed. These springs are, if desired, so adjusted as to permit the pistons
o be moved when but not until a predetermined degree of pressure or vacuum is
ttained, so that a number of such devices connected to a common service main
r reservoir may be operated by the increase or decrease of pressure. The said
prings are preferably arranged between the piston or diaphragm and suitable
DOJI

page_text: collars loosely fitted on the piston-rod and bearing against shoulders thereon, so
that the spring which, for the time being, is not under compression will move
with the piston.
My improved device also comprises means for utilizing either of these oppositely-
directed motions of the piston-rod for rotating a ratchet-wheel step by step. For
this purpose, in some instances, I employ the usual rocking arm bearing the pawl
for imparting step-by-step rotation to the ratchet-wheel connected with the valve,
switch or the like to be operated or controlled; and I connect the said arm with
the aforesaid piston-rod directly and through the medium of suitable mechanism
in such a manner that movement of the piston in either direction from its central
position will effect the movement of the said rocking arm in one and the same
direction. For example I connect the said rocking arm to the outer end of the
one end to the said rocking
piston-rod by means of a link jointed at
one or both
arm and at the other to the piston-rod, but having
slot, 80 that,
of the said joints made with
when the piston-rod moves away from the rocking arm, the said arm will be
drawn with it and the ratchet-wheel will be rotated one step by the pawl; but
when the piston-rod moves towards the said arm, the joint-pins will slide in the
elongated holes or slots and the rocking arm will not be moved.
an
or
elongated hole
To provide for the movement of the rocking arm when the piston is moved
towards the same, the said rocking crm is connected by a link to one arm of a
pivoted lever, the other arm of which extends into the path of the end of the
pin or of a moistion thereon. When the piston-rod moves towards the
rocking arm, it acts upon the raid lever and derby arbetes the rocking-arm
and the ratchet-wheel is rotated one step: when, howev, the piston-rod moves in
the reverse direction, the rocking-arm is Leted upon by the link above mentioned
and the said lever and piston-rod move away from each other. In this manner
the ratchet-wheel is turned in the same direction whichever way the piston is
moved, and thus the apparatus may be used indifferently with pressure or with a
vacuum. Or the alternating movement of the piston may be corrected by means
of a toggle-joint or a cam of suitable configuration, or by other suitable means.
It is obvious that my improved device can be employed in combination with any
suitable form of cock, valve or switch, for controlling the lighting of railway-
carriages and for other purposes.
I sometimes provide means whereby the step-by-step controlling mechanism
will be automatically operated, for example by means of cams and levers or the
like on the track, when the apparatus is applied to a railway-train, cach individual
set of mechanism being operated by the said cams and levers or the like, or the
pressure of the fluid in the service main or reservoir being controlled thereby for
the purpose of operating all the sets of mechanism.
My improved apparatus is, in some instances, so constructed and arranged that
the increase or decrease of pressure will directly effect the movement of the step-
by-step mechanism. In other instances, it is so constructed and arranged that the
increase or decrease of pressure will store energy in a spring or the like which, by
its reaction, will effect the required movement of the said mechanism.
I sometimes provide means whereby the apparatus can be adjusted to work in
either of these ways. For instance I connect the spaces in the cylinder on both
sides of the piston or diaphragm with the service main or reservoir, and provide a
suitable cock or valve whereby communication can be opened between the said
service main or reservoir and the said cylinder on either one or the other side of
the piston. Or I provide for accomplishing the desired result by the adjustment
of the step-by-step mechanism or parts of the same.
1
amb 1807

page_text: improved means for Operating or Controlling Valves and like
Apparatus from a Distance.
I, WALTER KERR, of 7, St. Anne's Terrace, Harlesden, in the County of Middle-
sex, Engineer, 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 improved means for operating or controlling gas and
other valves, electric switches and the like from a distance by means of momentary
increments or decrements of fluid-pressure. The main object of my said invention
is to provide a device of this kind which will operate efficiently with either high
or low pressures.
In my improved apparatus, a single actuating piston
single actuating piston or diaphragm
working in a cylinder or casing and held in its central position by
suitable springs or weights, is combined with step-by-step mechanism for operating
or controlling the valve, switch or the like, and is so arranged that it will be
moved in one direction when subjected on one side to increased fluid-pressure,
and in the reverse direction when the pressure is diminished or a vacuum or
partial vacuum is created in the cylinder on the same side of the said piston or
diaphragm. The said piston or diaphragm and the step-by-step mechanism are
preferably so constructed and arranged that the gas or other valve or the like
connected with the said mechanism will be moved in one and the same direction
whether the said piston or diaphragm be actuated by increased pressure or by a
vacuum.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing one form
of my improved controlling apparatus.
Figure 2 is a section on the line —x, Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a section on the line -¹, Figure 1,
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional front elevations illustrating alternative forms of
construction.
Figure 6 is a similar view illustrating the application of my invention to an
electric switch.
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic vertical section of portions of two railway-carriages
coupled together and having my improved apparatus applied thereto, the carriage
on the right-hand being supplied with gas, and that on the left-hand with
electricity.
Figure 8 is a partial longitudinal vertical section of a railway-carriage showing
an arrangement for actuating my improved apparatus by means of an inclined
plane or projection on the permanent way.
A is the casing of the apparatus, which is formed on or attached to a
cylinder A. In this cylinder works a piston B made fluid-tight by means of suit-
able packing-rings B₁. The piston B is held in its middle position by means of
spiral springs C, C which bear at one end against the said piston, and at their
other end, through the medium of washers 1,1', against a shoulder E¹ and a
collar E, respectively, on the piston-rod E, which rod extends from both sides of
the piston.
The fluid-pipe communicates with the cylinder A' beneath the piston B through

page_text: a passage a. By making the lower part of the cylinder the working space as
shown, and arranging the lower end of the piston-rod to work in a closed guide-
tube or recess A in the cylinder-cover A³, I effectually prevent leakage of air or
other fluid into or out of the working space of the said cylinder. The upper end
of the piston-rod E passes through the upper end of the cylinder and serves to
actuate the valve, electric switch or the like through the mechanism hereinafter
described.
I provide for the rotation of the said valve, switch or the like in one and the
same direction, by the motion of the piston-rod E in either direction.
For this purpose, I sometimes employ a rocking lever F, F (Figures 1 and 2)
pivoted at 6 and provided at the end of its arm with a pawl F³ adapted to engage
with a ratchet-wheel G secured to the plug of a gas or other valve, and preferably
having an even number of teeth. The other arm F of the said lever is connected
to the piston-rod by means of a link I having an elongated slot H' at its upper
end through which the coupling-pin is passed, so that, when the piston-rod E
moves downward, the arm I will be drawn down with it, and the ratchet-wheel G
will be rotated one step by the pawl F; when, however, the piston-rod E moves
upward, the lever F, F will not be moved by the link H as the joint-pin c will
slide in the slot H thereof.
To provide for the required movement of the said lever F, F when the piston is
moved upward, the arm F is connected by a link J to one arm K of a lever K, K'
pivoted at, the other arm K' of this lever extending into the path of the piston-
rod E or of projection there. The part are held in their normal position, as
shown in Figure 2, by means of a sp. I. ating on the lower joint-pin of the
link J.
When fluid under pressure is allowed to act on the underside of the piston B.
the piston is moved upward and, through the medium of the levers K, K¹ and
F, F, rotates the ratchet-wheel Gone step, the joint-pin c meanwhile moving
along the slot H'; when, however, the pressure is reduced or a vacuum or partial
vacuum is created beneath the piston 13, the piston is moved downward and the
arm is drawn down with it and the ratchet-wheel G turned in the same direction
as before. It will be seen, therefore, that whichever way the piston is moved, the
ratchet-wheel will always be turned in one and the same direction, and thus the
apparatus may be used indifferently with pressure or with a vacuum without
employing more than one piston or diaphragm. The piston is returned to its
middle position after each operation by means of the springs C, C'.
I sometimes make the lever-arm so that it extends through the casing A
and the apparatus can thereby be operated directly by hand, if desired. Stops e, e
are, moreover, provided for limiting the motion of the lever F, F
directions.
in both
In Figure 4 I have shown an alternative method of actuating the pawl F from
the piston-rod E. In this arrangement, the said pawl is mounted on a lever F
pivoted at band moving between stops e, e. This lever is connected to the opposite
side of the casing A by the links M, M of a toggle-joint, coupled to the said
lever and casing by joint-pins f, respectively. The centre-pin M of the said
toggle-joint is connected to the piston-rod E by means of a link H. It is evident
that, by these means, the pawl F will be caused to turn the ratchet-wheel G in
one and the same direction whether the piston-rod E be raised or lowered.
In Figure 5 I have shown a modification of my invention in which the lever F
carrying the pawl F is provided with a roller that works in a cam-groove or
slot E formed in an extension E of the piston-rod E. The said groove or slot
is of such shape that the said lever F³ will be moved in one and the same direction
whether the piston-rod be moved up or down from its central position.
It is obvious that, if the pawl F be provided with a suitable spring to keep it
in engagement with the ratchet-wheel G, either of the forms of my apparatus
above described can be used in any desired position independently of the action of
gravity.

page_text: Other suitable mechanism can, moreover, be employed for rotating the ratchet-
wheel in one and the same direction by the movement of the piston-rod E in
either direction.
A convenient form of valve is that shown in Figures 1 and 3, in which a conical
5 liner N is secured in a seat in the casing A so that its narrower end is on the
inner side. This liner is provided with an annular series of equi-distant ports j
those on one side communicating with a chamber or passage k and
those on the other side with a chamber or passage, to which
chambers or passages the gas-supply and distributing-pipes are respectively con-
nected, the number of ports j being preferably equal to half the number of teeth
on the ratchet-wheel G. In the said liner N works a hollow plug / to which the
ratchet-wheel G is fixed as above described, and which is provided with an
annular series of holes m of similar angular pitch to the holes ; this plug is held
in its seat by a spiral spring a bearing at one end against a plate in the end
thereof and at its other end against a plug A screwed into the casing A.
Since there are only half as many ports j, m as there are teeth on the ratchet-
wheel G, they will, in the step-by-step rotation of the latter, alternately register
with each other and be closed by the unperforated metal of the plug and liner,
and thus the passage-way between the chambers k, will be alternately established
and interrupted by successive movements of the piston B.
A bye-pass controlled by a screw-plug or valve p is provided, if necessary,
for connecting the chambers k, k¹ independently of the valve, N. This is useful,
for example, in cases where the gas-burners are provided with igniting-jets.
T
In Figure 6 I have shown the application of my invention to an electric-switch.
In this arrangement, the ratchet-wheel G is fixed on the same axle or shaft as a
commutator comprising a cylindrical block of suitable insulating material, having
around its periphery a series of channels filled with strips s of metal electrically
connected together by means of a metal ring s. The number of metal strips s is
equal to half the number of teeth on the ratchet-wheel G. Double contact-
tongues or brushes t are provided in connection with terminals & insulated from
the casing A, and are so arranged relatively to the cylinder r, that they are either
all in contact with strips s or all resting on the insulating material between the
said strips, according to the position of the commutator. By these means, in the
step-by-step rotation of the ratchet-wheel G, the terminals, are alternately
electrically connected to and insulated from each other.
In Figure 7 I have shown, on the right-hand side, a section of a railway-carriage
illuminated by gas and provided with my improved apparatus for controlling the
supply of gas thereto from the guard's van or other convenient part of a train. In
this arrangement, P is the gas-cylinder or reservoir, from which a pipe P1 extends
to the roof of tue carriage to supply the lamps. In this pipe is intercalated the
controlling device A above described, the two parts of the said pipe being con-
nected respectively to the chambers k, kas above explained. The pipes Q and R,
of the compressed-air and vacuum brakes respectively are connected through
cocks or valves T, T to a pipe T, which is in communication through a clack-
valve U and reservoir U with an actuating cock or valve V, which also communi-
cates through a pipe V with the train-pipe S to which the controlling devices A
throughout the train are connected. The said cock or valve V may be of any suit-
able known construction which can be operated to put the pipe Vi into communi-
cation with the pipe T and thus actuate the pistons B of the controlling devices,
and will then automatically return to its normal position and thus put the said
pipe Vin communication with the atmosphere and allow the said pistons B to
return to their central position.
In the railway-carriage on the left-hand side of Figure 7, I have shown the
application of my invention to an electric lighting circuit. In this case one of
the conductors W is divided and the cut ends are connected to the terminals (', {¹
of the automatic switch above described.
By operating the valve V, the pressure will be increased or diminished, as the

page_text: case may be, in the train-pipe S, and all the gas-valves or electric switches in the
controlling devices A will be moved one step and the light turned either on or off
as may be desired.
By the means above described, the controlling devices can be operated either
by pressure or vacuum whichever may be in use on the train for operating the
brakes. Moreover my improved controlling device can be used with a compressed
air brake without employing a reducing valve.
The springs C, C of the controlling devices, for returning the pistons B to their
central position are so adjusted as to permit the pistons to be moved when but
not until a predetermined degree of pressure or vacuum is attained so that any
desired number of the said controlling devices can be actuated from a common
service main or reservoir. This adjustment can be effected by varying the elastic
force of the springs inserted or by inserting washers 1) or 1)' of different thickness.
Since in my apparatus, the piston or diaphragm is moved in opposite directions by
increase and decrease of pressure, and consequently two of the said springs have
to be employed, I can adjust the said springs so as to adapt one for atmospheric
pressure and the other for higher pressures such as are usually employed in com-
pressed air brakes. I can thus dispense with a reducing-valve.
It is obvious that my improved device can be employed in combination with
any other suitable form of cock, valve or switch, for controlling the lighting of
railway-carriages and for other purposes.
I sometimes provide mean, whereby the step-by-step controlling mechaniste,
when the apparatus is applied to a railway-train, will be automatically operated.
by devices, such, for example, as cams or inclined planes, levers or the like, on
the track or permanent way, each individual set of mechanism being operated by
the said cams or the like, or the pressure of the fluid in the service-main or reser
voir being controlled thereby for the purpose of operating all the sets of
mechanism.
In Figure 8 I have shown an arrangement in which the actuating-valve V is
provided with a lever V adapted to be raised by means of an inclined plane u
secured on the permanent way and acting on a roller in the lower end of a
vertically-sliding rod v. This rod is provided with a piston w working in a dash-
pot w¹ secured to the floor of the carriage. By these means, the lights can be
automatically turned on or off as the train enters or leaves a tunnel or at other
times.
My improved apparatus above described is so constructed and arranged that
the increase or decrease of pressure will directly effect the movement of the step-
by-step mechanism. I sometimes so construct and arrange the said apparatus
that the increase or decrease of pressure will store energy in a spring or the like,
which, by its reaction, will effect the required movement of the said mechanism.
For example, by means of the modified form of pawl shown in Figure 9.
In this arrangement, upon the displacement of the piston from its mean position
in either direction, the pawl 1 is carried past one or more of the teeth on the
ratchet wheel G, so that on the return of the piston to its mean position the
spring L, by the energy now stored therein, will cause the pawl to be drawn
forward so as to turn the ratchet-wheel (t. Or by substituting £ pawl, such as is
shown in Figure 9 for that shown in combination with the mechanism illustrated
in Figure 4, I can provide for utilizing the stored energy of the springs C, C¹ for
effecting the rotation of the ratchet-wheel G.
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:.
-
First. A controlling apparatus of the kind or class herein before described, con-
structed with a single actuating piston or diaphragm which is moved in opposite
directions by increase and decrease of the pressure acting on one side thereof,
and which is connected with a valve, switch or the like through mechanism so

page_text: constructed that movement of the said piston or diaphragm in either direction will
cause rotation of the said valve, switch or the like in one and the same direction,
for the purposes above specified.
Second. A controlling apparatus of the kind or class hereinbefore described, in
which the cylinder is in communication on one side only of the piston or diaphragm
with a pipe or passage in which the pressure can be increased or diminished, and
the said piston or diaphragm is connected with a valve, switch or the like through
mechanism so constructed that step-by-step rotation will be imparted to the said
valve, switch or the like in one and the same direction by the movement of the
suid piston or diaphragm in either direction, substantially as described.
Third. A controlling apparatus for the purpose above specified, constructed with
springs on both sides of the piston or diaphragm, one of which is adjusted for
atmospheric pressure and the other for a much higher pressure so as to obviate
the necessity for employing a reducing-valve, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Fourth. The improved mechanism for imparting step-by-step rotation to a valve,
switch or the like, comprising a ratchet-wheel and a rocking-lever bearing a pawl
to engage with the said ratchet-wheel, and connected with the rod of the piston
or diaphragm in such a manner that the said piston or diaphragm, when moved
in either direction from its middle position, will turn the said lever in one and the
same direction about its pivot, substantially as herein before described.
Fifth. The improved controlling device constructed substantially as described
with reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in Figures 1 to
6 of the drawings and operating as above specified.
Sixth. The modification of my invention in which the mechanism for imparting
step-by-step rotation to the valve, switch or the like, is arranged to be operated
by inclined surfaces, levers or the like on the permanent way or track of a railway,
substantially as described.