IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GOVERNORS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS OR AIR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Braddock, senior, of Greenfield, in the County of
York, and Joseph Braddock, junior, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GOVERNORS
FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS OR AIR."
aled the 15th August 1876, and dated the 14th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Braddock, senior, and
Joseph Braddock, junior, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
14th June 1876.
JOSEPH BRADDOCK, senior, of Greenfield, in the County of York, and JOSEPH
BRADDOCK, junior, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF GOVERNORS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS OR AIR."
This Invention relates to means for regulating and governing the flow of gas and
air in pipes and mains for the purpose of maintaining a uniform pressure at the
outlet of the governor under all the various changes of the flow of gas or air, when
such flow is not in excess of the capabilities of the size of the governor and the
quantities of gas or air they are made to control.
The class of governor to which our Invention applies is that in which a bell
floating in water is caused by the pressure of the air or gas to raise or lower a conical
plug bedding against a valve seating, thus regulating the supply and keeping it an
even pressure.
The gas or air is caused to flow in such a direction that its tendency is to open
or depress the conical plug valve, and in order to counteract the effects of the varying
inlet pressure on this plug I construct within the bell a cylindrical compensating
chamber, the diameter of which is equal to that of the conical plug and communi-
cating with the gas at the inlet pressure, thus the pressures tending to raise the bell
and depress the valve being equal an equilibrium is maintained.
The main part of the bell is connected by means of a pipe to the gas in the main
or at the outlet pressure, and the bell itself being weighted or counterbalanced
accordingly this outlet pressure will be steadily maintained however the inlet or
initial pressure may vary. It will of course bo understood that the initial pressure
must in all cases be greater than the outlet pressure required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Joseph Braddock, senior, and Joseph Braddock, junior, in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th December 1876.
«
JOSEPH BRADDOCK, senior, of Greenfield, in the County of York, and JOSEPH
BRADDOCK, junior, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF GOVERNORS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS OR AIR."
This Invention relates to means for regulating and governing the flow of gas and
air in pipes and mains for the purpose of maintaining an uniform pressure at the
outlet of the governor under all the various changes of the flow of gas or air, when
such flow is not in excess of the capabilities of the size of the governor and the
quantities of gas or air they are made to control.
The class of governor to which our Invention applies principally is that in which
a bell floating in water is caused by the pressure of the air or gas to raise or lower
a conical or other plug bedding against a valve seating, thus regulating the supply
and keeping it an even pressure.
The gas or air is caused to flow in such a direction that its tendency is to open
or depress the plug or valve, and in order to counteract the effects of the varying
inlet pressure on this plug we construct within the bell a compensating chamber,
the area of which is equal to that of the plug and communicating with the gas at
the inlet pressure, thus the pressures tending to raise the bell and depress the valve
being equal an equilibrium is maintained.
The main part of bell is connected by means of a pipe to the gas in the main
or at the outlet pressure, and the bell itself being weighted or counterbalanced
accordingly this outlet pressure will be steadily maintained however the inlet or
initial pressure may vary. It will of course be understood that the initial pressure
must in all cases be greater than the outlet pressure required.
The Invention is also applicable to dry governors by connecting the compen-
sating chamber by means of a diaphram.
Such being the nature and object of our said Invention we will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood.
we have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation thereof :-
In the annexed Drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one of our improved
governors constructed on the first-named principle; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of
one of our improved governors constructed upon the second named or dry principle.
In Fig. 1 a, a, is the inlet; b, b, the valve seating; c, c, is the outlet to the main
pipe; d, d, a vertical pipe leading to the bell e, e; f, f, the cone or valve plug;
, g, the compensator; h, h, pipe leading to compensator; i, i, rod which supports
the valve ff; k, k, counterbalance weights.
The action of the governor is as follows:-Gas or air enters at a, a, passes
through the valve at b, b, and fills the main or pipe c, c, then flows up the pipe d, d,
and fills the bell e, e, which being regulated to give the pressure required raises
the cone or valve plug f, f, until the opening of the valve admits a flow of gas or
air equal to the required discharge, the power of governing is that of the relative
areas of the governing bell e, e, and the seat of the conc valve b, b, and varying
pressure on the cone f, f, is connected by the compensator g, 2, which is operated
on by the inlet pressure passing along the pipe h surrounding the rod i, i, that
supports the cone f, f, from the centre of the bell c, c. The pressure is regulated
by the counterbalance loose weights as at k, l, or by a float to buoy up the bell. If
a float is used no counterbalance is required, and pressure is regulated by placing
weights at the top of the bell at 1, l, pressure may be regulated by a water tank
being formed on the top of the bell with suitable appliances for supply and
discharge of the water as required. This principle of governor is applicable to gas
or air governor, wet or dry, of all kinds and sizes.

page_text: The dry governor, shown at Fig. 2, acts upon precisely the same principle, and
being marked with the same letters of reference requires no further description,
excepting that in this case the compensator J, J, must be connected by a flexible
material, such as the diaphragm m, m.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention―
First. The combination with the bell e, e, of a wet governor, or the expanding
chamber e, e, of a dry governor, of the compensating chamber g, g, substantially in
the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
And, secondly. Reversing the action of the cone or plug valve f, f, so that the
pressure or flow of the gas or air has a tendency to open rather than close it.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Braddock, senior, and Joseph Braddock,
junior, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOSEPH BRADDOCK.
(L.S.)
JOSEPH BRADDOCK, JUNE. (L.S.)