IMPROVEMENTS IN VULCANIZERS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN VULCANIZING INDIA-RUBBER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF THE FLOW OF GAS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Jackson, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VULCANIZERS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN VULCANIZING INDIA-RUBBER, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF THE FLOW OF
GAS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES."
Sealed the 10th September 1870, and dated the 11th March 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Jackson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th March 1870.
I, CHARLES JACKSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN VULCANIZERS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN VULCANIZING INDIA-
RUBBER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF THE
FLOW OF GAS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES," to be as follows :-
Vulcanizers consist of a cylindrical or other shaped gas furnace,
within which is supported a boiler. The india-rubber to be vulcanized
is supported in the steam space of the boiler, the lower part of the

page_text: boiler being occupied by water. It is necessary to the success of the
vulcanizing process that the temperature within the boiler should be
kept as uniform as possible.
My Invention consists in constructing the said vulcanizers and parts
connected therewith in the manner herein-after described, whereby the
quantity of gas conveyed to the burner of the vulcanizer for heating the
boiler is regulated or controlled by the pressure of steam within the
boiler.
I make the boiler of the vulcanizer by preference of wrought-iron
plates instead of cast iron, and I provide the boiler lid with a metallic
joint, so as to render the ordinary india-rubber packing unnecessary.
The boiler is in direct communication with the indicator by means of
a pipe in the side of the boiler, the said indicator consisting of an
ordinary pressure gauge. On the pipe which connects the pressure
gauge with the boiler I fix a vessel or chamber, into which open the
inlet pipe conveying gas to the said vessel or chamber, and two outlet
pipes conveying gas from the said vessel to the burner of the vulcanizer.
In the said vessel or chamber is a flat tube closed at one end and bent
into a nearly circular figure. The open end of this flat tube is fixed in
and communicates with the pipe of the pressure gauge, and the closed
end of the flat tube is free to move. On the closed end of the flat tube
is a lever carrying two valves, the said valves being situated respectively
opposite the outlet pipes, by which gas is conveyed to the burner of
the vulcanizer. By the pressure of the steam in the boiler the flat
curved tube in the gas vessel or chamber tends to uncoil itself, and if
the pressure in the boiler (and consequently the temperature) becomes
too great one of the valves, hercin-before described, is made to close one
of the gas outlet pipes in the vessel or chamber, and to nearly close
the other gas outlet pipe. By this means the supply of gas to the
burner of the vulcanizer is nearly cut off, a small flame only being left
burning to maintain the boiler at the required temperature.
As soon as
the temperature in the boiler sinks the pressure also sinks, and the flat
tube in the gas vessel or chamber returns to its normal position, and in
doing so lifts the valves from the gas outlet pipes, when a full supply of
gas again passes to the burner. The valves in the gas vessel or chamber
may be set to act at any required pressure of the steam in the boiler.
By the arrangement described the quantity of gas supplied to the
burner of the vulcanizer is regulated by the pressure of the steam in the

page_text: boiler, and the india-rubber in the said boiler is thereby maintained at a
uniform temperature during the vulcanizing process.
The arrangement described for regulating the quantity of gas passing
to the burner of the vulcanizer may also be applied to boilers for
heating purposes, and to other similar apparatus heated by gas, and for
regulating the flow of gas for other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
JACKSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Jackson, Her special licence that
I, the said Charles Jackson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Jackson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VULCANIZERS
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN VULCANIZING INDIA-RUBBER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE REGULATION OF THE FLOW OF GAS FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Jackson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Jackson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Vulcanizers consist of a cylindrical or other shaped gas furnace,
within which is supported a boiler. The india-rubber to be vulcanized
is supported in the steam space of the boiler, the lower part of the
boiler being occupied by water. It is necessary to the success of the
vulcanizing process that the temperature within the boiler should be
kept as uniform as possible.
My Invention consists in constructing the said vulcanizers and parts
connected therewith in the manner herein-after described, whereby
the quantity of gas conveyed to the burner of the vulcanizer for heating
the boiler is regulated or controlled by the pressure of steam within
the boiler.
I make the boiler of the vulcanizer by preference of wrought-iron
plates instead of cast iron, and I provide the boiler lid with a metallic
joint, so as to render the ordinary india-rubber packing unnecessary.
The boiler is in direct communication with the indicator by means of a
pipe in the side of the boiler, the said indicator consisting of an ordinary
pressure gauge. On the pipe which connects the pressure gauge with
the boiler I fix a vessel or chamber, into which open the inlet pipe
conveying gas to the said vessel or chamber, and two outlet pipes con-
In the
veying gas from the said vessel to the burner of the vulcanizer.
said vessel or chamber is a flat tube closed at one end and bent into a
nearly circular figure. The open end of this flat tube is fixed in and
communicates with the pipe of the pressure gauge, and the closed end
of the flat tube is free to move. On the closed end of the flat tube is a
lever carrying two valves, the said valves being situated respectively
opposite the outlet pipes, by which gas is conveyed to the burner of the
vulcanizer. By the pressure of the steam in the boiler the flat curved
tube in the gas vessel or chamber tends to uncoil itself, and if the
pressure in the boiler (and consequently the temperature) becomes too
great one of the valves herein-before described is made to close one of
the gas outlet pipes in the vessel or chamber, and the other valve to
nearly close the other gas outlet pipe. By this means the supply of gas
to the burner of the vulcanizer is nearly cut off, a small flame only
being left burning to maintain the boiler at the required temperature.
As soon as the temperature in the boiler sinks the pressure also sinks,
and the flat tube in the gas vessel or chamber returns to its normal

page_text: Jackson's Improvements in Vulcanizers, &c.
position, and in doing so lifts the valves from the gas outlet pipes, when
a full supply of gas again passes to the burner. The valves in the gas
vessel or chamber may be set to act at any required pressure of the
steam in the boiler.
By the arrangement described the quantity of gas supplied to the
burner of the vulcanizer is regulated by the pressure of the steam in the
boiler, and the india-rubber in the said boiler is thereby maintained at a
uniform temperature during the vulcanizing process.
The arrangement described for regulating the quantity of gas passing
to the burner of the vulcanizer may also be used for regulating the
flow of gas for other purposes.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in vertical section partly in elevation a vulcanizer
provided with a two-light burner containing my improvements; Figures
2 and 3 represent vertical sections of the gas regulating apparatus of the
said vulcanizer on a larger scale; and Figure 4 represents portions of
the same. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in each
Figure of the Drawings.
a is the gas furnace of the vulcanizer, consisting of a conical case,
within which the boiler is supported; c is the cover of the boiler, and
d is the metallic packing for making a steam-tight joint, the said cover
and packing being kept in their places by the screw collar e; e² is the
safety fusible plug; fis the two-light gas burner of the furnace, con-
sisting of two concentric jets, the said jets being supplied with gas by
the pipes g, h; is the pressure gauge or indicator for indicating the
pressure of the steam in the boiler b. The said gauge i is in direct com-
munication by means of the pipe k with the interior of the boiler b.
Connected with the pipe of the pressure gauge is a closed vessel or
chamber, through which vessel or chamber the gas to be supplied to
the burner has to pass before it reaches the said burner, the passage
of the gas to the burner can thereby be controlled or regulated by means
of the said vessel or chamber and the apparatus connected therewith.
and
The gas is conveyed to the vessel or chamber 7 by the inlet pipe m,
the gas escapes from the said vessel or chamber to the burner by means
of the outlet pipes p, q, within the said chamber. These pipes p, q,
communicate with the outer pipes g, h, by means of nozzles. The

page_text: passage of gas to the burner is controlled or regulated by the automatic
arrangement next described and best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the said
regulating arrangement being put into operation by the pressure of the
steam in the boiler b. In the vessel or chamber fixed to the pipe k
is a flat tube n closed at one end and bent into a nearly circular figure.
The open end of the flat tube n is fixed in the block & and communicates
with the pipe k of the pressure gauge. The closed end of the tube n
is free to move, the pressure of the steam in the boiler b tending to
uncoil the said tube. On the closed free end of the tube is a lever t
turning on the centre t², the said lever being supported by the carrying
piece fitted into the end of the tube n. Each end of the lever t carries
a valve marked respectively u, v, the valve u being situated opposite the
gas outlet pipe p, and the other valve o being situated opposite the other
outlet pipe q. The said valves u, v are not fixed rigidly to the ends of
the lever t, but are connected thereto by the pins or centres w (see
Figure 4). Upon these centres to the valves u, v, may be set at any
desired angle with respect to the lever t. The stems of the valves are
made into loops, within which the square parts of the pins or centres
10, 20, work. Screws x, x, capable only of a rotary motion, passing
through screw boxes y, y, made in the pins or centres w, w, connect the
valves u, v, to the lever t. By turning the screws x the valves may be
moved further from or brought nearer to the lever t in order to set the
valves to act at any required pressure of the steam in the boiler b. The
valves u, v,
are fixed after adjustment by means of the binding screws z.
A spring 2 bearing on the binding screw of the valve v presses back
the lever t, when the valve v is to be removed out of action, as herein-
after explained. So long as the valves u, v, occupy the positions repre-
sented in Figure 2 there is a free passage of gas from the inlet pipe m
through the chamber and pipes p, q, g, h, to the burner f. But if the
pressure of the steam in the boiler, and consequently the temperature,
become too great the free end of the bent tube n moves outwards so as
to uncoil the said tube n. On the uncoiling of the free end of the
tube n the valve u on the lever t is carried against and made to close
the gas outlet pipe p in the vessel or chamber . By the continued
motion of the free end of the tube n the lever t is made to turn on its
centre and carry the valve v nearly against the gas outlet pipe q, so as
to nearly close the said pipe, as represented in Figure 3. As the lever t
moves to the position last described the spring 2 is compressed; thus
the supply of gas to the burner fis nearly cut off, a small flame only

page_text: being left burning to maintain the boiler b at the required temperature.
As the temperature in the boiler sinks the pressure in the flat tube n
diminishes, and the said tube returns to its normal figure. On the first
back motion of the free end of the tube n the lever t, which is now free
to move, is pressed back by the spring 2, and the valve v uncovers the
pipe q, and on the further back motion of the flat tube n the other
valve u is moved from off the pipe p. The two outlet pipes p, q, are
thereby uncovered and a full supply of gas again passes to the burner.
Instead of attaching separate valves to the lever at the free end of
the flat tube in the chamber the lever itself may be made to act as the
valve to close or partially close the outlet gas pipes.
This arrangement is represented in elevation (with the cover removed)
in Figure 5, cross section in Figure 6, and part of the same detached
in Figure 7. In this arrangement the outlet gas pipes p, q, in the
chamber are made in the lump 3 carried by the circular plate 4 fitted
in an opening in the chamber . The said plate 4 is fixed to the
chamber by the set screws 5 and slots 6. On the outer side of the
plate 4 are the nozzles p², q³, to which the pipes passing to the burner
of the vulcanizer are fixed. The plate 4 is shown separately in Figure 7
of the Drawings. 7 is the lever constituting in this case the closing
valve, the said valve being covered with india-rubber. One end of the
valve 7 is jointed at 8 to the block 3 of the pipes p, q, and the other
end is jointed by the link 9 to the free end of the flat bent tube n. The
valve 7 is inclined downwards in the manner best seen in Figure 6. By
this means the highest end of the valve is situated opposite the pipe p,
and its lowest end is situated opposite only about one-half of the other
pipe q. When the temperature in the boiler becomes too great and
the pressure of the steam causes the tube n to uncoil itself the said tube
effects the closing of the valve 7 upon the pipes p, q, the pipe p is
thereby wholly covered and the pipe q partially covered by the said.
valve, and the supply of gas is nearly cut off from the burner, as
herein-before described with respect to the first described arrangement.
On the flat tube n returning to its normal figure the valve 7 is lifted
from the pipes p, q, and the full supply of gas again passes to the
burner. By turning the plate 4 and fixing it by the set screws 5 and
slots 6, so as to increase or diminish the distance of the outlet pipes p, q,
from the valve 7, the said valve may be made to close the said pipes p, q,
at a greater or less pressure of the steam in the boiler.

page_text: When the vulcanizer is heated by a single burner instead of by the
compound burner represented a single outlet pipe is employed in the
chamber, and one only of the valves represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3
is employed. In the case of a single outlet pipe in the chamber the
valve is so set that the pressure of the steam in the boiler at which it
is required to work the vulcanizer is only sufficient to cause the valve
to partially close the single outlet pipe. If the pressure in the boiler
exceeds that at which the vulcanizer is to be worked the valve com-
pletely closes the single outlet pipe, and the gas is wholly cut off from
the burner.
Although I have found that a flat tube closed at one end bent into
a nearly circular figure answers very well for transmitting the pressure
of the steam to the closing valve or valves, yet I do not limit myself
thereto, as various other analagous contrivances may be adopted with
the same or nearly the same effect, for example, the chamber 7 may
be divided by a plain or corrugated plate into a steam space in com-
munication with the boiler 6 the deflection or change of figure of the
said plate by the pressure of the steam being made to effect the closing
of the outlet pipe or outlet pipes.
The automatic arrangements herein-before described and illustrated for
regulating the quantity of gas passing to the burner of the vulcanizer
may also be applied to boilers for heating purposes and to other similar
apparatus heated by gas and for regulating the flow of gas for other
purposes.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner 2
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not limit myself to the precise details hercin described and illustrated
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention; but I claim as my Invention,—
Firstly. The improvements in vulcanizers or apparatus employed in 3
vulcanizing india-rubber herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the construction, arrangement,
and adaptation of parts, substantially as herein described and illustrated,
for regulating or controlling by the pressure of steam within the boiler
of the vulcanizer the quantity of gas conveyed to the burner of the said 3
vulcanizer.
Secondly. The application of the said regulating or controlling
mechanism herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying

page_text: Drawings to the regulation of the supply of gas to boilers for heating
purposes, and other similar apparatus heated by gas, and to the regulation
of the flow of gas for other purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Jackson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
HENRY SKERRETT,
Clerk to
George Shaw,
Birmingham.
CHARLES JACKSON. (L.S.)