IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF HEATING AND ILLUMINATING GAS.
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Gibb Henderson and
James Anderson Kelman at the Office of the. Commissioners of Patents on
the 13th December 1882.
ALEXANDER GIBB HENDERSON of Wood Green in the County of Middlesex,
and JAMES ANDERSON KELMAN of High Holborn in the same County,
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF HEATING
AND ILLUMINATING GAS.'
23
This invention relates firstly to a novel construction of Governor for regulating
the supply of gas from the gas works, and in maintaining an established pressure
upon the street mains.
The invention relates secondly to an improvement in strect and other lamps
whereby the supply of gas thereto will be regulated by the differences between the
day and the night pressures, the object being to keep a small igniting light constantly
burning and thus render it unnecessary to employ a lamp lighter.
The invention relates thirdly to a novel arrangement of tap or cock for street
lamps, the object being to prevent the turning on of the gas by mischievously
inclined persons.
The invention relates fourthly to some improvements in the details of construc-
tion of a wet gas meter for which a patent was granted to one of us dated
9th October 1879 N° 4084.
Our improved station governor may be described as consisting of a closed-
cylindrical chamber in the centre of which stands up an open pipe which is
connected at bottom with the inlet gas supply. Crowning and fixed upon this
central pipe and of a like diameter is a short open ended cylindrical valve.
Surrounding this central pipe, and extending about the greater part of its length, is
a small cylinder which may be cast with the bottom of the main cylinder and
serves to form an annular channel around the central pipe. The space between
the two cylinders serves to contain water which forms a water joint for an inverted
floating bell that is open at top to allow of gas passing through the cylindrical
valve to the outer surfaces of the bell.

page_text: 4
This cylindrical valve is slotted vertically to form lateral passages for the gas and
the opening in the crown of the bell is fitted with a packing ring which embraces
the slotted valve on a level with the longitudinal slots, and serves as the bell rises
or falls to enlarge or contract the lateral passages for the escape of the gas. The
gas admitted to the apparatus passes through the lateral passages down the annular
passage before mentioned, and so to an exit pipe with which the annular passage
communicates. The bell is weighted preferably by water so as to regulate the
supply of gas to any established pressure on the distributory mains. Should the
pressure on the inlet of the apparatus increase or diminish, the bell will sink deeper
or rise higher in the water, thereby reducing or increasing the capacity of the
lateral passages in the cylindrical valve in a corresponding ratio, and thereby
maintain the established pressure against all changes of inlet pressure.
To work the instrument more perfectly we employ a novel form of liquid
connection for loading and unloading the bell with water. It consists of a three
way pipe, one way of which is connected to the elevated supply tank, and is fitted
with a tap or valve for regulating the weighting water when needed. The second
way is made to enter gas-tight the case of the governor at the top, the pipe
projecting downward until sealed in the water held in the bell reservoir.
The third way is led in any convenient direction so as to induce a syphoning
action to lighten the load in the bell reservoir when needed. These taps or valves
might be so made and by the application of clock work might be so regulated as to
automatically change the pressure at regulated intervals of time and so dispense
with the frequent visits of the governor man.
For automatically supplying gas to street burners and cutting off the supply to
a minimum, we surround the upper end of the supply pipe with a small cylinder
preferably of glass, and cover the same with a metal cap-piece, pendent from the
inner side of which is a small cylinder open at its lower end. The supply pipe
projects into this small cylinder, and projecting downwards through the metal cap
into this small cylinder is a short pipe which carries the burner at top. These two
pipes are so arranged with respect to each other that the end of the supply pipe
stands at a slightly higher level than the bottom of the pendent pipe. Water or
other fluid is supplied to the glass cylinder sufficient to seal the pendent pipe, in
which however a small lateral orifice is formed. When the night pressure of the
gas is on, the gas will break the water seal and supply the burner in the usual
way. So soon, however, as this pressure is brought down to the day pressure the
pendent pipe will be sealed, and a small jet of gas passing through the lateral
opening in the pendent pipe will be all that will reach the burner. This will
however suffice to maintain the ignition until the night pressure is again renewed
when a burst of light will instantly break forth.
The taps at present used for public lanterns have levers on the stem and can be
easily operated upon by ill-disposed persons to the loss and annoyance of Gas
Companies.
To prevent this we fit onto the end of the supply pipe a valve box with a lateral
opening and close this opening by a cylindrical valve, by turning which the gas
may be supplied to or cut off from the burner. This valve will stand vertically
with its stem towards the ground. The head of this stem will be suitably shaped
to receive a key with which the lamp lighters pole is fitted and it will thus offer
no inducement to anyone to tamper with the lamp.
The improvements constituting the fourth head of our invention refer as already
stated to wet gas meters, and relate more especially to compensating wet gas
meters constructed according to the specification of Letters Patent granted to
Alexander Gibb Henderson aforesaid, dated 9th October 1879 and numbered 4084:
These improvements consist of an improved method of adjusting and
maintaining the true water line up to justice point, so as to ensure correct
registration on the one hand, and to prevent what is technically known as
flooding" by the water held in reserve overflowing the water line tube, on the
other hand.
ar

page_text: In the specification of the patent above referred to, the front chamber of the
meter is described as divided into two unequal parts, the larger containing water
to compensate for the loss of water in the measuring drum chamber by evaporation
or otherwise, the smaller part forming the float chamber.
We now remove the whole of that part of the plate which divides the float
chamber from, the drum chamber so that the course of the gas shall be as follows.
The gas entering the inlet pipe finds its way through the valve into the float and
drum chambers. It will then pass into the drum through the slits into the backs
of the hoods and flow out into the hollow cover down the spout into the waste
water box and away to the outlet.
In the specification referred to a tube called for distinction an automatic
controlling tube marked F, the bottom of which is open and level with the justice
water line in the reservoir of the front chamber, while its top part pierces the mid
division, opens into the drum chamber, the area of this tube communicating with
the front and drum chambers being equal throughout its length.
We now propose to increase the diameter of this tube to, say, double the size,
and to contract its upper end, piercing the mid division to an area equal to, or
thereabouts, the area of the small hole through which the compensating water
passes from the reservoir to the drum chamber, so that the reserve water shall be
undisturbed by any sudden increase or diminution of the gas pressure.
This tube we also lengthen and extend into the drum chamber where it is
slightly sealed when the water in the drum chamber is full up to justice point.
Thus the reserve water is undisturbed by all influences until compensation is
needed and ensues.
A further improvement consists in using a distinct hole or aperture for the flow
of the compensating water from the reservoir to the drum chamber.
We also cause the lower end of the overflow tube to seal in the water contained
in the waste water chamber, whatever the construction or arrangement of parts
may be preferred.