IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Alfred Joy at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1879.
ALEXANDER ALFRED JOY, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE
FLOW OF GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS."
My Invention relates more especially to apparatus used for regulating the flow
of gas used for illuminating or other purposes in cases where the pressure of such
gas is liable to variation, the regulation being effected automatically by means of
such variations in pressure. It has for its objects improved methods of constructing
and arranging such apparatus so that it is less liable to escape of gas and to
derangement in the event of very sudden variations of pressure, whilst it is very
simple, cheap, and easily adjusted and regulated.
I take a casing, preferably of metal, and square in plan, and having a flange pro-
jecting round its upper edge.
I make a recess or seat in this casing a short distance below its upper edge, and
upon this seat I fit a frame consisting of two flanges of brass or other suitable
material screwed or otherwise fixed together, and holding between them the edges
of a corresponding diaphragm of thin leather, india rubber, or other sufficiently
flexible and durable material.
At a
This frame is screwed or otherwise fixed upon the seat described, an air or gas
tight joint being made between them by cement or other suitable means.
sufficient distance below this diaphragm I form a horizontal partition across the
casing, the size of which (in plan) decreases, and in this partition I make an opening
directly under the centre of the diaphragm, into which I screw or otherwise fix a
conical tubular seat or valve case, the wider opening of which is below, and projects
beneath the partition, and I adjust in this tubular seat a thin flat circular horizontal
disc valve, having a central vertical wire stem which passes through the diaphragm,
its position being regulated by a washer and nut upon each side of the latter.
Upon the upper flange of the casing of the apparatus I fix a cover of any desired
shape by means of screws, and an india rubber or other gas-tight joint, and in the
centre of this cover I make an opening which can be closed when desired by a gas-
tight screw plug, and through which small weights can be introduced and attached
to the upper end of the vertical wire in order to adjust the exact position of the
valve in the conical tubular seat; or an adjustable spring may be used for the same
purpose.

page_text: Below the conical seat I close in the casing, and form it into a chamber, into
which the gas is admitted through a supply pipe in any convenient position. An
opening (which may itself be used for the supply pipe) is made directly under the
conical seat for the purpose of introducing the valve and its spindle into the
latter.
I divide the chamber in the lower part of the casing below the valve Beat into
two parts by a vertical partition, the valve being in one of these parts, and an
outlet pipe for the gas being fixed in any convenient position in the other part.
This second part is also made to communicate with the space above the conical
valve seat and below the diaphragm.
When gas is admitted into the apparatus through the supply pipe it passes
between the edge of the disc valve and the tubular conical passage, within which
the latter is suspended, and filling the space under the diaphragm it passes down
and out through the outlet pipe. If the pressure increases the diaphragm rises and
lifts with it the valve, which, passing into a part of the conical tube of smaller
diameter, reduces the area of the passage for the gas, of which a smaller quantity is
therefore admitted. If the pressure decreases the reverse takes place, and a larger
quantity is admitted.
Should the diaphragm leak no escape of gas takes place, as the space above it is
closed in. By my method, as described, of bringing the conical tubular passage
down into the inlet chamber, and arranging the disc valve completely within it, I
prevent the oscillation of the valve, and with it of the supply of gas, by any sudden
increase of the supply striking and affecting the valve, which is protected and quito
out of the way.
My improved apparatus may be used for the purpose of automatically regulating
the supply and flow of other fluids as well as of gas.