Improvements in Reducing Valves for Steam and like . Elastic Fluids.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reducing Valves for Steam and like
.
Elastic Fluids.
I, JOHN EDWARD LEWIS OGDEN, of Marine Cottage, Goole, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in steam and like pressure reducing valves
and its object is to construct a reducing valve in which the sensitiveness of action
is greatly increased while the wear and strain upon the elastic diaphragm is much
reduced.
My invention consists in an arrangement of diaphragm and valve in such manner
that the diaphragm controls a small valve and by opening it, first permits the steam
pressure to balance a larger valve which is then opened to pass steam. from the
high pressure to the low pressure side.
In one
reducing valve constructed in accordance with my invention I arrange a
steam valve opening against the high pressure steam, but having a balancing piston
fitting in a cylindrical chamber formed beneath it in the low pressure port. This
valve is constructed as a hollow or ring valve and a small steam valve is attached
by a spindle to a suitable diaphragm of known elastic material by means of a
supporting plate and convenient screw or other connection. The diaphragm is
arranged on the low pressure side or connects with the low pressure side by a
convenient passage. The diaphragm chamber is preferably so placed that it fills
up with condensed water and so the diaphragm is to some extent protected from
the direct action of the hot steam.
The diaphragm plate is thrust upwards by a powerful spring which tends to
open the inner or balancing valve while the low pressure steam forces the said
diaphragm downwards in opposition to the said spring.
The action is as follows:-Assume the steam pressure to act on the top of the
valves and the low pressure side to have steam enough to keep down the diaphragm
against the action of the spring, then when the low steam pressure is a little
further reduced the spring forces up the diaphragm, opens the small steam or
balancing or controlling valve in the centre of the larger steam valve and admits
high pressure steam to the hollow of that valve and to its balancing cylinder and
balancing piston or prolongation. The diaphragm being released from the
pressure of the high pressure steam on the top of the small valve moves up
further and the small or balancing valve by coming into contact with a bridge
piece lifts the main valve from its seat (which main valve is now in balance) and
so permits steam to have access to the low pressure side till the pressure then rises
sufficiently to move the diaphragm against its spring and so close both small and
larger steam valves and cut off steam supply to the low pressure side until a
further fall occurs on that side.
In another mode of arranging my new reducing valve, I arrange the balancing.
piston for the main steam valve on the high pressure side instead of the low
pressure side and allow the leak past to force down the said valve to its seat with.
the whole steam pressure when the valve is closed. The small valve here opens'
from the balancing cylinder through a suitable aperture to the low pressure side
and when the diaphragm lifts it, the high pressure steam rushes out of the
balancing cylinder on one side of the balancing piston, and so permits the said
balancing piston to act and put the large valve in equilibrium, so that the further
movement of the diaphragm at once opens the main steam valve. This allows the.

page_text: pressure on the low pressure side to increase until the diaphragm is moved against
its spring so that the small valve first closes and then the large valve rapidly follows.
A characteristic feature of my invention consists in operating a small valve by a
diaphragm so that the said small valve on being moved from its seat allows access
of steam to balance a large valve which large valve is then easily opened. The
small valve may in itself be constructed as a balanced or a partly balanced valve
to still further reduce the work required to be done by the diaphragm. In either
case I greatly reduce the work done by the diaphragm and so increase the life of
that part of the apparatus while rendering the apparatus much more sensitive. I
also by my improved apparatus permit the whole boiler pressure to pass the reducing
valve until the limiting pressure is attained which is in itself a distinct advantage.
1 prefer to mount my small or balancing valve on the main or steam valve or on
the balancing piston but I may construct my reducing apparatus with my small
valve opening to an appropriate part as hereinbefore explained, the small valve
being seated in a suitable part of the casting apart from the main valve or
balancing piston. In this case however the same action occurs.
Another advantage of my invention is found in the fact that the main valve and
sometimes the small valve are held down by the boiler pressure on their seats 80
that leakage to the low pressure side from the high pressure side is entirely
avoided and no steam passes from high pressure to low pressure side except when
the valve is opened by the action of the diaphragm.
A piston may be applied instead of a diaphragm.
Dated this 25th day of January 1893
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reducing Valves for Steam and like
Elastic Fluids.
J, JOHN EDWARD LEWIS OGDEN, of Marine Cottage Goole, in the County of
York, 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 improvements in steam and like pressure reducing valves
and its object is to construct a reducing valve in which the sensitiveness of action is
greatly increased, while the wear and tear upon the elastic diaphragm or spring
piston is much reduced.
My invention consists in an arrangement of a diaphragm and valve, or a spring
piston and valve, in such a manner that the diaphragm or piston controls a small
valve, and by opening it, first permits the steam pressure to balance a larger valve,
which is then opened to pass steam from the high pressure to the low pressure side.
Referring to the three accompanying sheets
Sheets 1 and 2 are sectional views showing two arrangements of my reducing
of explanatory drawings,
valve having a diaphragm in connection with the controlling valve, whilst Sheet 3
is a similar view of my valve when provided with a piston in connection with the
controlling valve.
The
In Sheet 1 A is the high pressure and B the low pressure steam side; the steam
enters and passes from the valve in the direction indicated by the arrows.
balancing piston C is made a working fit within the chamber D, the upper part of C
seating itself upon the topmost part of D to form a steam tight valve. A small
controlling valve E fits within the hollow cylindrical balancing valve C, and is
connected at the lower end of the stem to a diaphragm F of elastic material, in
the manner shown in the illustration; or by any suitable and well known form
of connection. Beneath the diaphragm I arrange a spring such as G which tends

page_text: to open the inner valve E, whilst the low-pressure steam by exerting its pressure on
the upper side of the diaphragm tends to keep the valve closed. No steam will
pass through the valve so long as the pressure on the low pressure side is sufficient
to overcome the tension of the spring, but when the low pressure steam falls lower
than the desired normal pressure for which the valve is set, the spring G forces up
the diaphragm and thus opens the valve E for admission of high pressure steam
into the inside of valve C, thus putting valve C into equilibrium. Both valves are
lifted off their seats and held open by the further upward action of the spring G.
The high pressure steam is thus allowed to flow through the valve until the pressure
on the low pressure side is sufficient to move the diaphragm against the tension
of the spring G, and by closing both the large and small valves, to cut off further
admission of steam.
1.
I regulate the tension of the spring G to suit the required pressure by adjustment
of the nuts on the end of the screws or studs H H. When the steam on the high
pressure side of my reducing valve falls below the normal pressure of the low
pressure side, the tension of the spring G will keep open both the small and large
valves and thus allow the steam to flow freely through the reducing valve.
Sheet 2 is an illustration of my reducing valve, having the balancing piston C
arranged within the high pressure part A instead of in the low pressure part B of
the valve as in Sheet 1. The steam leaks past the piston into the chamber J and
thus the high steam pressure acts upon the full area of the valve, and being
opposed only by the low pressure steam acting on the area of the under side, the
valve is kept tightly upon its seating. The small controlling valve is in like
manner kept tightly upon its seating formed within the valve. The admission of
steam is regulated by the elastic diaphragm F and the spring G, which act upon
the valves in the manner hereinbefore described in reference to the application
illustrated in Sheet 1.
Sheet 3 is an illustration of my reducing valve having a packed piston K instead
of the diaphragm F in the illustrations shown in Sheets 1 and 2. This piston
works within the cylinder or cylindrical chamber L, having its upper end open for
the reception of one end of the spring G.
I make the piston steam-tight preferably by packing it with a packing ring of
vulcanized india-rubber which is expanded by the pressure of steam within it,
and kept tightly against the walls of the cylinder. The steam is admitted from
the low pressure side of the reducing valve to the lower side of the piston by way
of the bye-pass M.
The piston K and the spring G act upon and control the admission of steam from
the high pressure side A to the low pressure side B, in the manner hereinbefore
described.
To assist in the adjustment of the tension spring for any desired steam pressure I
sometimes indicate pressures by figures on either of the screws or studs H H
Sheets 1, 2 and 3 and by securing a suitable pointer or indicator to the crosshead N.
Thus as the pointer or indicator travels with the movement of the crosshead on the
adjustment of the nuts the desired pressure is indicated by the figures set out at the
proper position on either of the studs H H.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I déclare that what I
claim is;-
1. In reducing valves for steam and like elastic fluids the combination of a
diaphragm and spring or a piston and spring, with a balancing piston valve, having
a smaller controlling or balancing valve, formed within it or in connection with the
same, for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the steam or other elastic fluid
passing through the valve.
2. The combination of a balancing piston valve having a smaller controlling or
balancing valve formed within, or in connection with the same, as, and for the
purposes bereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. The arrangement and combination of a diaphragm such as F and a spring
such as G with valves such as C and E as, and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated in the Sheets 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The arrangement and combination of a piston such as K and springs such
as G with valves such as C and E as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described 5
and as illustrated in Sheet 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of August 1893.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.