IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES FOR REDUCING OR REGULATING THE PRESSURE IN MAINS, PIPES, AND OTHER CONDUITS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Ebenezer Saxby, of 23, Thames St., Windsor,
near Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES FOR REDUCING OR REGULATING THE
PRESSURE IN MAINS, PIPES, AND OTHER CONDUITS."
Sealed the 28th November 1876, and dated the 1st June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Ebenezer Saxby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1876.
FREDERICK EBENEZER SAXBY, of 23, Thames St., Windsor, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES FOR
REDUCING OR REGULATING THE PRESSURE IN MAINS, PIPES, AND OTHER CON-
DUITS."
In water or gas works in hilly districts, in steam using in dye works, and under
other circumstances it is often necessary to deliver an irregular supply at a uniform
head or pressure considerably below that of the main source of supply; it is to do
this economically that this my Invention is designed. It consists,-
1st. In placing in the pipe a throttle valve, which can be of any suitable con-
struction, but preferably consisting of an elliptical balanced brass valve working in a
cylindrical bore lined with india-rubber. The spindle of this valve is connected by
levers to a diaphragm valve, hereafter described, open to the fluids in that portion
of the pipe cut off by the throttle valve from the source of supply.
2nd. Opening into that portion of the valve separated by the throttle valve from
the source of supply I construct a neck. This widens out into a cup with a flanged
rim. Upon this I securely bolt a ring flange, with an india-rubber diaphragm
(covering the cup) between them. This diaphragm is bellied out so as to freely
expand or contract with the pressure of the fluid on its under surface. On its
upper surface I place a casting with a smooth rounded bottom to lie upon the india-
rubber, and of a lesser diameter than the cup. This casting has a cup or hollow on
its upper part, upon which rests the point of a pin pivotted on a lever called the
weight lever above. This lever is pivotted at one end on a suitable fulcrum near
to and is jointed by links at its other end to the spindle of the throttle valve afore-
said. The weight lever can be weighted to any desired pressure. Supposing it
weighted so as to maintain a pressure of 20 pounds to the square inch in the part
Prins G31

page_text: beyond the throttle valve, whenever the pressure is lessened by water being drawn
off the diaphragm sinks, owing to the weight above not being counterbalanced by
20 lbs. to a square inch on its under side. This causes the casting above and the
weight lever to sink. In sinking the free end of the weight lever actuates the
links, and thus turns the valve spindle, increasing the flow of water through
the throttle valve till the required pressure of 20 lbs. per square inch is again
reached.
This form of the apparatus is specially designed for water, but the same principle
applies to gas, steam, et cetera. Where steam is used care should be taken to put
a bend in the neck below the diaphragm, so that the latter may be cut off from the 1
direct contact of the steam by condensed water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Ebenezer Saxby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
December 1876.
FREDERICK EBENEZER SAXBY, of 23, Thames Street, Windsor, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES
FOR REDUCING OR REGULATING THE PRESSURE IN MAINS, PIPES, AND OTHER
CONDUITS."
In water or gas works in hilly districts, in steam using in dyeworks, and under
other circumstances it is often necessary to deliver an irregular supply at a uniform
head or pressure considerably below that of the main source of supply; it is to do
this economically that this my Invention is designed. It consists,-
1st. In placing in the pipe A a throttle valve B, which can be of any suitable
construction, but preferably should consist of an elliptical balanced brass valve, as
shown working in the cylindrical bore C, preferably rather larger than the diameter
of the pipe lined with india-rubber D. The spindle of this valve B is connected by
levers E, F, to a diaphragm valve hereafter described, open to the pressure on part G
of the pipe cut off by the throttle valve B from the source of supply.
2nd. Opening into the exit pipe C I construct a neck H below the level of
pipe G; this widens out into a cup, as shown in Drawings, or preferably has a
simple flanged rim I level with bottom of the pipe or nearly so, and leaving as little
space for air to accumulate as possible. Upon this I securely bolt a ring flange J,
with an india-rubber diaphragm K entirely covering the orifice between them. This
diaphragm is bellied out so as to freely expand or contract with the pressure of the
fluid on its under surface. On its upper surface I place a casting L with a smooth
rounded bottom to lie upon the india-rubber, and of a lesser diameter than the cup
or opening. This casting has a cup or hollow on its upper part, upon or in which
rests the point of a pin M, pivotted on or jointed to a lever F, called the weight
lever. This lever F is pivotted at one end on a suitable fulcrum O near too aud
usually forming a part of ring J, and is jointed by a link E at its other end to the
spindle of the throttle valve B. The weight lever F can be weighted to any
desired pressure by weights threaded on bar N. Supposing it weighted so as to
maintain a pressure of 20 pounds to the square inch in the part beyond the throttle
valve, whenever the pressure is lessened by water being drawn off the diaphragm
sinks owing to the weight above not being counterbalanced by 20 lbs. to a square
inch on its under side. This causes the casting above and the weight lever to sink.
In sinking the free end of the weight lever actuates the links, and thus turns the
valve spindle, increasing the flow of water through the throttle valve till the
required pressure of 20 lbs. per square inch is again reached. If however at any
timo an abnormal pressure is to be desired on the main beyond the valve, as in caso
of a conflagration, I screw down lever F by means of screw P, so as to keep the
valve squarely open.

page_text: This form of apparatus is specially designed for water, but the same principle
applies to gas, steam, et cetera. Whore steam is used care should be taken to put a
bend in the neck below the diaphragm, so that the latter may be cut off from the
direct contact of the steam by condensed water.
I claim as my Invention,-
1st. The combination of diaphragm K above a wide neck H, freely open to the
water in the exit main, with the valve B and the lever E, F, or their mechanical
equivalents, for the purposes described.
2nd. The screw P in combination with a diminishing valve for the purposes
described.
3rd. Arranging the diaphragm in a diminishing valve, as described, so as to leave
no room for the accumulation of air underneath.
4th. The general arrangement of diminishing or water regulating valve with a
straight passage through in combination with a disc throttle valve B in a widened
chamber lined with rubber, so that practically no impediment is given to the passage
of water.
In witness whercof, I, the said Frederick Ebenezer Saxby, have herounto set
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord 1876.
Witness,
E. GARDNER COLTON,
FREDERICK EBENEZER SAXBY. (L.S.)
Clerk to W. P Thompson,
Patent Office,
6, Lord St.,
Lpool.