Year: 1886

page_text: I, THOMAS CRAWTE HOPPER, of West Walnut Lane, German Town in the City
of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer of
Gas Meters, 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 consists of certain improvements in that class of Gas governors in
which the valve controlling the flow of gas from the holder to the main or
distributing pipe is connected to a float, the position of the valve and the area of
the opening between the holder and the main being determined by the rise and
fall of said float, which is subjected to the pressure of the gas in the main.
My improvements are mainly upon apparatus of the character shewn in my
Specification of my Application for Letters Patent No 12918, dated October 27th
1885.
Included in my present improvements are modified forms of port regulators for
governing the area of the opening between the holder and main independent of the
regulation due to the movement of the valve under the influence of the float.
A further improvement is a simple plan of constructing the float when made with
different internal areas, a still further improvement being a device for preventing
the trembling or shaking of the float in the operation of the governor, and a fourth
improvement is a device for readily varying the low pressure range of movement.
of the float.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1. is a vertical section of a gas governor constructed in accordance with
my present invention Figures 2 and 3 are views of the valve and port regulator
forming part of the said governor, the regulator being in different positions from
that shewn in figure 1. Figures 4 to 6 inclusive are sectional views illustrating
modified forms of valve and regulator used in connection with the Governor
Figures 7 to 13 inclusive are sectional plans on the lines indicated. Figure 14 is a
plan view of the bell float shown in Figure 1 and figure 15 is a perspective view
on a reduced scale of the bell float shown in the various figures.
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In figure 1. A represents a vessel containing water or other liquid, and in this
vessel is guided an inverted bell float B, which, in the present instance, has its
upper portion contracted in area in respect to the lower portion so as to increase

page_text: the normal pressure upon the gas in the distributing main as the float descends as
set forth in my aforesaid specification of my application for Letters Patent
N° 12918 dated October 27. 1885.
The gas enters the float through a pipe x shown by dotted lines, which pipe
communicates with the distributing pipe or main preferably at some distance from
the governor.
Suspended from the float B by a rod a is a valve D, which, in connection with a
ported chest F, serves to regulate the flow of gas from the inlet pipe b to the
discharge chamber d with which communicates the distributing pipe or main G.
shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.
The valve D consists of a hollow plug or cylinder closed at both ends, with the
exception of a drainage opening at the bottom, the valve proper comprising that
portion between the lines y-y.
The buoying action of the gas upon the bell is such that the ports of the chest F
are uncovered by the valve just sufficiently to permit a flow of gas into the main
necessary to maintain a desired normal pressure therein, an increase in demand
causing the lowering of pressure beneath the bell and a descent of the same
sufficient to cause such additional opening of the ports of the valve chest as will
permit a freer flow of gas necessary to supply the increased demand, and a
decreased demand causing back pressure in the main and increasing the pressure
beneath the bell, so as to cause a rising of the same and the valve, and a cutting off
of the area of the ports of the chest F proportionate to this decreased demand.
Where the upper portion of the bell is decreased in area, there is an increase in
the normal pressure maintained in the distributing pipe or main as the bell falls,
owing to the decreased area of gas upon which the weight of the bell is exerted,
this increase of normal pressure on the descent of the bell being effected also in that
class of governors in which weights are applied to the bell as it descends and
removed as it ascends.
In apparatus of this class, it is advisable to provide means for governing the
flow of gas into the main independently of the automatic regulation due to the
movement of the valve under the influence of the rise and fall of the bell float; for
instance, the demand for gas during the Summer months is not as heavy as during
the Winter months, so that in order to supply the heaviest demand during the
Summer period, the valve would not have a range of movement which would cause
the bell to drop to such an extent as to exert the heaviest pressure upon the gas,
hence, there could not be maintained in the main a pressure as high as when the
full movement of the valve and bell was necessary in order to maintain the supply.
For this reason, I provided the valve or valve casing of the governor shown in the
Specification of my aforesaid application for Letters Patent Number 12,918 of
October 27th 1885, with an adjustable port regulator or damper, by means of
which the area of the ports could be increased or diminished to accord with the
general variations in demand upon the main, the movement of the valve under
control of the bell float being relied upon to compensate for frequent and temporary
variations in demand.
.
The adjustable port regulator shown in my said former Specification consisted of
a ported sleeve applied to the valve or valve casing, but in the present case, I have
shown other forms of regulator, which are preferable in many cases, to that shown
in my said former Specification.
The regulator shown in Figure 1 is in the form of a continuation D¹ of the
valve D, the suspending rod a being connected to the upper end of the regulator.
In this continuation D are formed ports f which coincide with the ports g- of
the chest F, these ports.f being preferably straight on one side and inclined on the
opposite side, as shown:
The port regulator can be adjusted circumferentially by turning the suspending
rod a so as to throw the ports f more or less out of line with the ports g, a
pointer on the upper end of the rod a, in connection with a dial h¹ on the upper
end of the bell B, serving to indicate the extent to which the ports are open.

page_text: When the port regulator is in the position shown in Figure 1, the ports g-
have a full acting area and the action of the governor is the same as if a plain plug
valve were used, but by turning the port regulator to the position shown in
Figure 2 the area of the port g- is reduced one half, so that the same range of
movement of the bell and valve is required as would be required by twice the
demand upon the main if the ports were fully open, as in Figure 1.
By causing the straight sides of the ports f to act as port closers, as in Figure 2,
the area of the ports g- is uniform throughout, but if the port regulator D₁ be
turned in the opposite direction, so as to bring the inclined sides of the ports finto
action, the ports g- will be of differential area, as shown in Figure 3.
The same effect can be produced by making the ports of the valve casing straight
on one side and inclined on the other, the ports of the regulator being straight on
both sides, or the ports of both the valve casing and regulator may be straight
on one side and inclined on the other.
The ports f and g- are, by preference, abruptly increased in area at the lower
ends, as shown by dotted lines, so that when the valve is nearing the limit of its
opening movement, and the heaviest pressure is on the gas, less movement of the
valve is demanded for a certain increase in port area than during the beginning
of the movement, so that the range of movement of the valve, and hence the
length of the valve and chest, can be reduced.
In Figures 4 and 9 I have shown a valve structure in which the valve D consists
of segmental plates outside of the ported valve casing F, the port regulator D¹
being inside of the same and having keys or feathers adapted to a longitudinal
groove in the suspending rod a, so that while the port. regulator has no vertical
movement with the valve or suspending rod, it must partake of any rotary move-
ment imparted to said rod, the latter, however, turning freely in the valve arm, so
that it does not affect the circumferential position of said valve.
In Figures 5, 10, and 11, I have shown an arrangement in which the port
regulator is inside of the valve chest and the valve inside said regulator, the said
valve being in the form of a segmental plate, the flanged edges of which are
guided between vertical ribs on the port regulator, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.
The suspending rod a is flattened and passes through arms on the port regulator
and the valve is connected to the rod, so that while the regulator partakes only of
the rotary movement of the rod, the valve partakes both of its rotary and vertical
movement, and hence is operative, whatever may be the circumferential position of
the regulator in respect to the fixed chest.
A plate pivoted at one edge and acting as a flap damper, is available for the
purpose of regulating the port area independently of the movement of the valve.
In Figures 6 and 12, for instance I have shown a flat valve D, guided on the back
of a partition plate F; which divides the inlet and discharge chambers b. and d, and
bas a port g
The valve is provided with a dainper D¹, consisting of a flat plate pivoted at
one edge, and capable of being adjusted by means of an arm t on the suspending
rod a.
In this case, the effective width of the port for the passage of gas is the distance
between the back of the valve and the edge of the damper, as indicated by the
bracket w in Figure 12, this distance being varied as desired, by the adjustment of
said damper.
To prevent the escape of gas at the top or bottom of the damper, the valve D
may have plates w³, as shown.
By inclining or curving the edge of the damper plate, the same effect may be
produced as by the use of tapering ports. It will be evident that a damper of this
character is applicable to the valve plate or chest instead of to the valve, without
affecting the function of said damper.
When the bell is contracted in area as shown, it is difficult to manufacture, if the
ordinary circular form be adhered to, hence I prefer to make the bell of triangular,
square, or other polygonal form, as shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15, so that thọ

page_text: top and sides of the bell may be made of blanks properly shaped and seamed
together at the corners or edges v, the bell being provided with one contraction, as
shown, or with more than one, as may be desired.
In order to prevent the trembling or shaking movement of the float B, which
might otherwise be caused by pulsations in the distributing pipe or holder, I provide
the upper portion of said float with a number of internal plates or diaphragms k
extending partially across the float and projecting alternately from opposite sides
of the latter, these plates, (which are perforated for the reception of the pipe x)
serving to retard the vertical movement of the float and thus render it free from
the influence of sudden and temporary changes of pressure in the holder or main.
When the upper portion of the float is contracted in diameter, it becomes
advisable to govern the level of liquid in the vessel A, so as to provide any desired
range of movement of the float, before contracting the area of gas upon which the
weight of the float is exerted, hence I provide the vessel A with a draw-off cock p-
and gauge p whereby the level of liquid can be lowered to any desired extent,
the height of liquid remaining in the vesel being indicated by the guage.
It will be evident that my improved port regulator can be used in apparatus in
which the valve is operated by a float which is weighted as it descends and relieved
from weight as it ascends, as well as with apparatus in which the bell float is made
with differential internal areas, but the latter form of float is preferred as the
simplest.
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
First: In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas or other fluids,
the combination of a ported valve chest, a valve connected to a float, and serving
by its movement to regulate the flow of fluid through the chest, and a port
regulator forming a continuation of the main valve, and serving by its adjustment,
to vary the port area, independently of the regulation due to the movement of the
valve, all substantially as described and shown.
Second In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas or other
fluid, the combination of a ported valve or valve chest, a float for operating the
valve, an adjustable port regulator whereby the flow of fluid can be governed
independently of the regulation due to the movement of the valve, and an operating
rod whereby both the vertical movement of the valve and the circumferential
movement of the port regulator are effected, all substantially as described and
shown.
Third In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas or other fluid,
the combination of a ported valve or valve chest, a float for operating the valve,
an adjustable port regulator whereby the flow of gas is governed independently of
the regulation due to the movement of the valve, and a rod whereby the vertical
movement of the valve and the circumferential movement of the port regulator are
affected, said rod being provided with a pointer for use in connection with a dial
on the top of the float, all substantially as described and shown.
Fourth In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas or other
fluid, the combination of a ported valve or valve chest, a float for operating the
valve, an adjustable port regulator which does not partake of the movement of the.
valve, and an operating rod serving both as a means of moving the valve and
adjusting the port regulator, all substantially as described and shown.
Fifth —In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas or other fluid,
the combination of a ported valve, chest, an adjustable port regulator, a governing
valve guided in said port regulator, and a float for operating said valve, all
substantially as described and shown.
Sixth-In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas or other fluid,
the combination of a ported valve or valve chest, a float for operating the valve,

page_text: and a port regulated in the form of a flap pivoted at one edge to the valve or chest
all substantially as described and shown."
Seventh-In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas or other
fluid, the combination of a ported valve or valve chest, a float for operating the
valve a port regulator in the form of a flap pivoted at one edge to the valve or
chest, and guard plates at top and bottom of said flap, all substantially as described
and shown.
Eighth In apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of gas, the com-
bination of a valve controlled by a float, and a valve chest having ports abruptly
enlarged in area at and near one end, all substantially as specified.
Ninth The within described bell float polygonal in cross sectional plan and
composed of plates secured together at the corners, all substantially as specified.
Tenth The bell float having retarding plates or diaphragms within the same,
as set forth.
Eleventh The combination, in a gas pressure governor, of the valve for con-
trolling the flow of gas, a bell float operating said valve and having differential
internal areas and the liquid vessel having a drain cock and gauge, all substantially
as specified.