Improvements in and Connected with Steam or other Fluid Pressure Reducing Regulating Valves.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886
Complete Left, 27th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887
RESERV
Improvements in and Connected with Steam or other Fluid Pressure
Reducing Regulating Valves.
I, JOHN AULD, of 91 Rochester Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows :-
-
This invention comprises certain improvements in the construction, arrangement,
and combination of the parts of steam pressure reducing regulating valves (suitable
also for other fluids), of the class in which a flexible diaphragm or equivalent is
employed (instead of a working piston and cylinder) to close the regulating valve or
valves by its outward motion and the internal pressure, and vice versa, open the valve
by its inward motion and reduction of the pressure below the normal pressure
required which improvements will make such valves more suitable for special
applications and circumstances and especially more durable and efficient in their
action for the higher pressures of steam now used.
The nature and novelty of the invention or improvements, as applied to a single
or double beat and faced valve fitted in the division between the inlet and outlet
chambers and branches of the valve chest, with the stem or spindle of the valve led
down and connected to the diaphragm below, and for regulating the steam delivered
at a uniform reduced pressure in the chamber and branch passing from the valve
chest, consist all as follows:-According to one arrangement the valve is fitted to
open upwards on its seat and has the guiding feathers formed or fitted on the outside
of the closing faces of the valve and seat, (either on the valve or on its seat) to prevent
the feathers from causing the currents of high pressure steam to act irregularly on
and cut or wear away the faces at the feathers as is now the case. By a further
improvement the diaphragm is secured by screw bolts between the flange of a
recessed chamber at the bottom of the valve chest (to retain condensed steam or
water over it) and the flange of a cupped or recessed closing-in end or cover below,
through a central hole in which the spindle of the valve and diaphragm is passed, so
as to be pressed up by the force of a reacting spiral spring fitted below it in the space
between side bars or standards projecting down from the said flanges and a crosshead
with a pressure adjusting central screw and securing nut, regulated to open the valve

page_text: when the pressure in the escaping chamber and branch falls below the desired
regulated pressure; and vice versa partially close it when the pressure rises beyond
said normal pressure and position. This regulated load or pressure on the spring may
be indicated by a pointer on a spring and index divisions cut or marked on a stile or
plate secured on the crosshead. Instead of the said spiral pressure spring acting on
the valve spindle, the usual equivalent weighted lever may be employed, or an
equivalent dead weights used when the arrangement is inverted with the diaphragm
above the valve. A cover, as usual, would be screwed on flanges over the top recess
of the valve chest formed for the fitting in and removal of the valve, or valves when
the double beat or equilibrium valves are used, with a fixed or movable stop on the
inside of the cover to prevent the valve from lifting too high. When there was no
room for arranging the loading regulating spiral spring, or weight and lever, below
the valve spindle, these may be fitted on the top cover, with a crosshead below and
return acting side rods passed up through the guide holes in both the lower and upper
covers and a crosshead on the top of the side rods over the spring and regulating centre
screw acting on the cap of the spring, with securing jam nut as below. The
diaphragm, by these improvements, would be formed of a disc of flexible vulcanised
American fibre on the inside next the hot water and steam, or it might be formed of
the best vulcanised india-rubber, supported by a nut and washer or a fixed collar inside
large disc plate or radial plates and nut outside, or of an annular corrugated
elastic disc of sheet steel, or other equivalent, such as a flat radially cut or divided
sheet-steel disc in either case secured respectively at the outer circumference and
centre in narrow recesses in the flange cover and washer of the nut on the spindle.
and a
Instead of making the said flexible or elastic disc, or medium in the form of a disc,
as stated, it may be made in the form of a hollow inverted cylinder of india-rubber
with close central end, where it is secured to the rod and a flange all round the outer
circumference or brim, where it is secured between the flanges of the valve chest ; by
which it would be made fluid pressure tight to the washers and nuts at its central
valve rod and to the flanges on the end of the valve chest and closing-in end cover,
and made of a thickness (as from to of an inch) at the yielding cylindrical part to
stand the elastic yielding action and pressure of steam within the valve chest, the sides
of this cylindrical part being supported, to resist compression, by a coiled spring or it
might be a set of rings fitted up within from the outside, which would move up and
down like a spring as the cylindrical part expanded and contracted like the internal
ring supports of the blowing case of bellows or accordians. This cylindrical yielding
case might also be made of corrugated sheet brass, Platinoid, or other metal, which
would stand the heat and action of the steam; or this might be made of sheet steel,
and be fitted as a support inside and to the rubber cap, and both be secured by their
flanges at the centre and rims, the rubber thus forming a protection to the corrugated
steel cap disc in this case against the corrosive action of the steam, as in the case of
the corrugated disc or plate form before referred to.
Although springs, and dead weights have been herein mainly referred to, to load the
moving diaphragm and give the reaction from the outside of the valve chest in these
improved arrangements of pressure regulating valves, it is to be understood that a
weighted lever might also be used as an equivalent for the spring or dead weight.
Another improvement consists in forming a chamber over these improved diaphragms
for containing water and preventing them from being subjected to the direct action of
the steam in pressure regulating valve chests.
Dated this 30th day of November 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Steam or other Fluid Pressure
Reducing Regulating Valves.
I, JOHN AULD, of 91 Rochester Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention comprises certain improvements in the construction, arrange-
ment, and combination of the parts of steam pressure reducing regulating valves
(suitable also for other fluids), of the class in which a flexible diaphragm or equivalent
is employed (instead of a working piston and cylinder) to close the regulating valve
or valves by its outward motion and the internal pressure, and vice versa open the
valve by its inward motion and reduction of the pressure below the normal pressure
required; which improvements will make such valves more suitable for special
applications and circumstances, and especially more durable and efficient in their
action for the higher pressures of steam now more generally used than heretofore.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown.
---
Figures 1 and 2 show an elevation and plan both partly in section through the
valve chest, on the lines 1 - 1 and 2 - - 2, cach on the other, of my improved
pressure reducing regulating valve a, and arrangement and combination of its fittings,
for steam, but also suitable for other pressure fluids, all constructed in accordance
with one modification or arrangement of my improvements. Figures 3 and 4 show
an elevation and plan of a modified arrangement of my improved valve and its fittings
from that shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the pressure regulating spring is placed
above the valve chest, instead of below, as in the former figures. Figures 5 and 6
show a sectional elevation and plan, the latter taken on the line 3
3 of the former,
§
of another arrangement and combination of my improvements, in which a trunk E is
used between an ordinary regulating valve a and the flexible diaphragm C for containing
water or other fluids to protect the latter, and having a lever F below, with the
regulating pressure spring D placed to one side instead of in the direct centre line
of the valve, or with a weighted lever f³, f, over the valve chest and which arrange-
ment of my improved valve would take up no more height than that shown in
Figures 1 to 4. Figure 7 shows a sectional elevation of an ordinary pressure regulating
vavle, in which an improved vulcanized india-rubber elastic hollow cylindrical cap or
inverted cup e is used surrounding the spiral spring D. instead of employing the
vulcanite or other yielding disc shown in the other Figures 1 to 6. Figure S
shows a modification of this yielding elastic cap over the spring D, in which a
corrugated thin metal cylinder e³ is employed. Figures 9 and 10 show double and

page_text: single beat or faced valves a, a², suitable for these improved regulating valves, showing
my improved guiding feathers a³, as formed on the valve a and on the seat b,
respectively. Figure 11 shows a sectional elevation of an arrangement of throttle
regulating valve as fitted with and in accordance with my improvements. Figures 12,
13, and 14 show various detailed views of my improved yielding or elastic discs for
pressure regulating valves.
Referring to the Drawings:-The nature and novelty of the invention or improve-
ments, as applied to a single or double beat or faced valve a, a, shown in Figures 9
and 10, respectively, or as shown in Figures 1 and 2, at a, fitted in the division
between the inlet and outlet chambers and branches A1, A2, of the valve chest A,
having the spindle c of the valve a attached by a pinned head and socket at c¹ and
led down and connected to the disc diaphragm C below, and for regulating the steam
delivered at an uniform reduced pressure in the chamber and branch A passing from
the valve chest A,-consist all as follows:-According to this arrangement the
valve a is fitted to open upwards in its seat b, 61, and has its guiding feathers a³
formed or fitted on the outside above the valve, or on its closing face and seat b (either
on the valve, or on its seat, as shown in Figures 9 and 10) to prevent the feathers a³
from causing the currents of high pressure steam to act irregularly on and cut or
wear away the faces a¹ or b' at the feathers, as is now the case. By a further improve-
ment the diaphragm C is secured by screw bolts between the flange of a recessed
chamber A3 at the bottom of the valve chest A (to retain condensed steam or water
over it) and the flange of a cupped or recessed closing-in end or cover A* below,
through a central hole in which the spindle c of the valve a and diaphragm Cis passed
out, so as to be pressed up by the force of a re-acting spiral spring D fitted below it
in the space between the side bars or standards B, B, projecting down from the said
flanges of the valve chest A and a crosshead B', with a pressure adjusting central
screw and securing nut 63, regulated to open the valve when the pressure in the
escaping chamber and branch A falls below the desired regulated pressure; and vice
versa, partially close it when the pressure rises beyond said normal pressure and
position by the action of the increased pressure of the steam on the valve a. This
regulated load or pressure on the spring D may be indicated by a pointer d on the
spring cap D, and index divisions cut or marked on a stile or plate d¹, secured on the
crosshead B. Instead of the said spiral pressure spring D acting on the valve
spindle c, the usual equivalent weighted lever may be employed, or an equivalent dead
weight used when the arrangement is inverted with the diaphragm Cabove the valve a.
A cover A as usual, is screwed on flanges over the top chamber A2 of the valve
chest A formed for the fitting in and removal of the valve a, or valves when the double
beat or equilibrium valves a, a², shown in Figure 9, are used, with a fixed or movable
stop at on the inside of the cover to prevent the valve from lifting too high. When
there is no room for arranging the loading regulating spiral spring D, below the
valve spindle c, it may be fitted on the top cover A as shown in Figures 3 and 4,
with the cresshead B2 below and return acting side rods 133 passed up through guide
holes in both the lower and upper flanges and covers of the valve chest A and the
crosshead B¹ secured on the top of these side rods B³ over the spring D and regulating
centre screw b², acting on the cap D₁ of the spring D, with securing jam nut 6³, and
index pointer d, and division plate d¹, as shown in the former modification Figures 1
and 2.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the liquid chamber A³ is made in the form of a long
hellow trunk E with vessel E¹ at bottom for securing the flexible disc of vulcanized
fibre C, substantially as shown in Figure 1, except that a cylindrical metal block (1
is used outside instead of the metal washer or disc C in the former arrangements, for
guiding the action of the spindle c, with a rim a forming the stop to the extreme lift
of the valve. In this arrangement n lever F is fulcrumed at F¹, to a bracket project-
ing down from the flange of the chamber E¹, and pressing on the lower end of the
spindle c of the valve a, and has the spring D connected to the said lever by the rod b
passing up through the centre of the spring and attached to the cap D¹, with the
pointer d on it oscillating within a slotted divided index, stile d¹, screwed by arms d

page_text: at d³ to projections on the outside of the trunk E, as seen particularly in the sectional
plan Figure 6. The pressure on the spring D to give the pressure of steam desired in
the chamber A2 above the valve a is regulated by screwing the rod 62 in the upper
cap D, which may be secured by the jam nut 3. Instead of using the spring D, the
lever may be arranged at right angles to the valve chest A and its branches A1, A2,
and have the free end elongated, as dotted in at F, to which a rod may be jointed
and continued up and jointed to the short arm of the weighted lever, fulcrumed
on a bracket on the upper cover A5 of the valve chest A.
Either of these arrange-
ments with the spring or the weighted lever would take up much the same height
vertically as the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 3.
Referring to Figure 11, this shows an arrangement of throttle regulating valve
chest. A, a. with inlet and discharge branch A', A, in which the throttle valve a is
connected by a link c' to the rod c of the diaphragm C, secured within the water
chamber A³, and fitted with regulating pressure spring D below and index fittings, all
substantially as described in reference to Figure 1, except that the diaphragm Chas a
disc formed of thin radial plates C² secured below it in grooves at the securing centre
collar cl, and at the circumference c² in the lower cover A, in place of the solid plate C¹¹.
The diaphragm C by these improvements is formed of a disc of flexible vulcanized
American fibre on the inside next the hot water and steam, or it might be formed of
the best vulcanized india-rubber, supported by a large washer or plate C and nut out-
side, or a collar C on the spindle c, and nut and washer C inside; or by a further
improvement supported by a large dise formed of radial plates C, as shown in
Figures 11 and 12, or it might be a thin steel disc plate C3 cut radially, as shown in
face and edge views in Figure 13; or by a further improvement, this disc of
vulcanite or india-rubber C, might be supported by a corrugated disc C, as shown
in Figure 14, which would be protected from corrosion by the flexible disc C ; in
either case secured respectively at the centre c' and outer circumference c² in
narrow recesses in or "over the washer C₁, between the securing parts of the
spindle c.
Instead of making the said flexible or elastic disc or medium C in the form of
a disc, as described in reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 6 and 11 to 14, it may
be made in the form of a hollow inverted cylinder e of vulcanized india rubber, with
close central end e', where it is secured to the rod c of the valve a by the washer or
cap D2 of the spring D and by the flange all round the lower outer circumference or
brim at where it is secured between the flanges E2 of the lower chamber E' of the
trunk E of the valve chest A, by which it would be made fluid pressure tight to the
washer or cap D2 and nuts at its central valve rod c and to the said flanges E2 on the
lower end of the trunk E of the valve chest A and closing-in end cover A, and made
of a thickness (as from to 4 of an inch) at the yielding cylindrical part e to
stand the elastic yielding action and pressure of steam within the valve chest A and
trunk E, the sides of this cylindrical part e being supported to resist compression by
the coiled spring D, or it might be a set of rings, fitted up within from the outside,
which would move up and down like a spring as the cylindrical part expanded and
contracted, like the internal ring supports of the blowing case of bellows or accordians.
This cylindrical yielding case e might also be made of corrugated sheet brass,
Platinoid, or other metal, as shown at ein Figure 8, which would stand the heat and
action of the steam, and be secured all in like manner to that described in reference
to Figure 7 or this might be made of sheet steel, and be fitted as a support inside to
the rubber cap e, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8, and both be secured by
their flanges at the centre e¹ and rims e², the rubber thus forming a protection to the
corrugated steel cap disc e³ in this case against the corrosive action of the steam, as in
the case of the corrugated disc or plate form before shown and described in reference
to Figure 14.
Although springs D have been herein mainly referred to, for loading the moving
diaphragm and giving the reaction from the outside of the valve chest A in these
improved arrangements of pressure regulating valves, it is to be understood that a
weighted lever might also be used as an equivalent for the spring.

page_text: Another improvement consists in forming the hollow chamber A³ or trunk E at the
lower part of the valve chest A over these improved diaphragms C or cylindrical
caps e or e³ for containing water, and preventing them from being subjected to the
direct action of the steam in pressure regulating valve chests.
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. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of valves
and their fittings for regulating and reducing the pressure of steam or other fluids all
substantially as herein described and distinguished in the several modifications, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In regulating reducing fluid pressure valves a, the fitting or forming of
the guiding feathers a³ outside or above the working faces, either on the valve a or on
the seat, all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. In regulating reducing fluid pressure valves, the construction of the flexible
diaphragms of vulcanized American fibre, either supported by a solid plate or
block C, or by radial plates 0², or a cut steel disc C³, or a corrugated sheet metallic
disc C, all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, and specially in Figures 11 to 14.
Fourth. In regulating reducing fluid pressure valves, the construction of the flexible
diaphragms of vulcanized india-rubber, supported by radial plates C3³, or a cut steel
disc C³, or a corrugated sheet metallic disc C, in contradistinction to the solid disc or
block (heretofore used, all substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in Figures 11 to 14 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In regulating reducing fluid pressure valves, the use of an india-rubber hollow
cylinder e or of a corrugated cylinder e³, surrounding the regulating pressure
spring D, or of a combination of these all as an equivalent for the Hexible disc C in
such valves, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 7
and 8 of the accompanying Drawings.