IMPROVEMENTS IN DIMINISHING AND AIR VALVES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hanson, Engineer and Machine Maker, of Bradford,
in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIMINISHING
AND AIR VALVES."
Sealed the 14th May 1878, and dated the 17th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hanson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1877.
WILLIAM HANSON, Engineer and Machine Maker, of Bradford, in the County of
York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIMINISHING AND AIR VALVES."
My Invention relates to diminishing or reducing the pressure of steam, and in
closing air valves by means of mercury.
"
For this purpose I construct my diminishing valve with a valve casing, in which
is fitted in a chamber fixed in the casing an equilibrium valve of a "double-beat'
form. On the top of this chamber, and inside the casing, is cast a lug, in which is
fitted a standard, having on the top a jaw in which works the fulcrum of a lever.
On the short end of this lever is fitted a link, the other end of the link being fitted
on the top of the equilibrium valve. The long end of the lever is fitted with a
weight, which works in a tube cast in the inside of the valve casing. In the
bottom of this tube is formed a small passage, carried to the outside of the side of
the casing, and on this outside is formed a boss in which is screwed a pipe joint.
In this joint is fitted a small pipe, which extends a sufficient height to equal the
weight of mercury to the pressure reduced. On the top of this small pipe is fitted
a cup, having on the top an air valve.. Mercury is placed in the tube cast in the
valve casing on which acts the weight fitted on the equilibrium valve lever.
An increase of pressure within the valve chamber or casing increases the pressure
on the surface of the mercury contained in the tube, causing the mercury to
pass
[Price 6d]

page_text: through the small opening in the bottom of the tube and up the outside pipe into
the cup, causing the weight of the equilibrium lever to fall and close the equilibrium
valve. When the pressure decreases the inercury falls down the pipe, forcing up
the weight in the tube, and opens the equilibrium valve. The mercury rising in
the cup closes the air valve, but directly the mercury falls the valve opens. A safety
valve is fitted on the top of the valve cover.
The air valve is fitted on steam traps, but may be used for other purposes. The
top of the steam trap is made with a circular chamber, constructed with a top flange,
in which is screwed the top part of a circular cup, which is formed at the base with
a recessed chamber to hold mercury. The top part of the cup is made with an
opening in which works a vulcanite india-rubber spindle, or a wrought-iron spindle,
having on the top a small valve which works in a seat formed in a cup or bonnet
fitted on the top circular chamber of the steam trap. In the top part of the
mercury cup are formed air holes, which open in the circular top chamber of the
steam trap, and the inlet steam pipe is fitted on the side of the circular chamber.
The small valve fitted on the vulcanite india-rubber spindle, or on the wrought-iron
spindle, remains open until such time as there is no pressure or steam in the trap;
the air is discharged through the air openings. Directly the air is expelled the
steam enters the trap, heating the mercury in the cup, which expands and lifts up
the vulcanite india-rubber or wrought-iron spindle and valve, closing it. When
the steam is turned off the mercury falls and opens the air valve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Hanson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th May
1878.
WILLIAM HANSON, Engineer and Machine Maker, of Bradford, in the County of
York. “IMPROVEMENTS IN DIMINISHING AND AIR VALVES."
The said Invention relates to diminishing or reducing the pressure of steam, and
in closing air valves by means of mercury.
ss
For this purpose I construct the improved diminishing valve with a valve casing,
in which is fitted in a chamber fixed in the casing an equilibrium valve of a
double-beat" form. On the top of this chamber, and inside the casing, is cast a
lug, in which is fitted a standard, having on the top a jaw in which works the
fulcrum of a lever. On the short end of this lever is fitted a link, the other end of
the link being fitted on the top of the equilibrium valve. The long end of the lever
is fitted with a weight, which works in a tube fitted in the valve casing. In the
bottom of the tube is screwed a pipe joint, in which is fixed a small pipe, which
extends a height equal to the weight of mercury to the pressure reduced. On the
top of the small pipe is fitted a cup, having on the top an air valve. Mercury is
placed in the tube fitted in the valve casing, on which acts the weight fitted on the
equilibrium valve lever.
An increase of pressure within the valve chamber or casing increases the pressure
on the surface of the mercury contained in the tube, causing the mercury to pass in
the outside pipe into the cup, causing the weight of the equilibrium lever to fall
and close the equilibrium valve. When the pressure decreases the mercury falls
down the pipe, forcing up the weight and opening the equilibrium valve. When
the mercury rises up in the cup it closes the air valve, but directly the mercury.
falls the valve opens. A safety valve is fitted on the top of the valve cover.
The air valve is fitted on steam traps, but may be used for other purposes. The
top of the steam trap (cover is made with a circular chamber, in the top plate of
which is screwed the top part of a circular cup, formed at the base with a recessed
chamber to hold mercury. The top part of the circular cup is made with an
opening, in which works a vulcanite india-rubber or wrought-iron spindle. The top
of the spindle is formed with a small valve, which works in a seat formed in a cup
or bonnet fitted on the top circular chamber of the steam trap. In the top of the
mercury cup are formed or drilled air holes, which open in the circular top chamber
of the steam trap. The inlet steam pipe is fitted on the side of the circular chamber.
The small valve fitted or formed on the vulcanite india-rubber or wrought-iron
spindle remains open until pressure or steam enters the steam trap, the air being
discharged through the air openings. Directly the air is expelied the steam enters
the trap, heating the mercury in the cup, which expanding lifts up the vulcanite
india-rubber or wrought-iron spindle and valve, closing it. When the steam is
turned off the mercury falls and opens the air valve.
In the inside of the steam trap is fitted a tap having a hollow plug, which is
made with an opening on the side to open on the outlet passage of the tap. The
opening and closing of the plug is actuated by a lever, fitted on a square projection
formed or cast on the end of the plug. This lever is connected to a spindle fitted in the
centre of a float. The spindle is connected to a lever working on a small shaft
passing through stuffing boxes fitted to the steam trap. On the shaft is fitted a
lever and balance weight. When the float is lifted a sufficient height in the
cylinder by the condensed water it causes the lever fitted to the plug to lift, turning
the plug until the opening in the plug comes in contact with the opening of the
discharge pipe, allowing the condensed water to flow out.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed

page_text: to more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which,
Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of my improved steam-reducing
valve; Figure 2, sectional front elevation; and Figure 3, plan of the same.
Figure 4 represents a sectional elevation of improved steam trap, fitted with air
valve; and Figure 5, plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used to represent similar parts.
A, valve casing, in which is fitted a chamber B, provided with an equilibrium
valve C of "double-beat" form; on the top of the chamber B is cast a lug D, in
which is fixed a standard E, having on the top a jaw F, in which works the fulcrum
of a lever G. The short end of this lever is fitted in a jaw H of a link I, the other
end of the link being fitted to the top of the equilibrium valve C. The long end of
the lever is made with a jaw J, in which is fitted a lug K, cast on the top of n
weight L, which works in a tube M fitted in the valve casing A. Mercury N is
placed in the tube M, and in the bottom of the tube is screwed a pipe joint O, in
which is fixed a branch pipe P, and on which is screwed another pipe joint Q, in
which is fixed a small pipe R, which extends a sufficient height to equal the weight
of mercury to the reduced pressure, i.e., two inches for every pound of pressure. On
the top of the pipe R is fitted a cup S, having fitted in the top an air valve T.
An increase of pressure within the valve chamber or casing A increases the
pressure on the surface of the mercury N contained in the tube M, causing the
mercury to travel up the pipe R and pass into the cup S, and the weight L to fall
and lift up the short end of the lever G, closing the equilibrium valve C. When
the pressure decreases the mercury falls down the pipe R into the tube M, lifting
up the weight L, which lowers the short end of the lever G and opens the equi-
librium valve C; when the mercury N rises in the cup S, it closes the air valve T,
and directly the mercury falls down the pipe R the air valve T opens.
A safety
valve is fitted on the tube V, screwed in the cover W of the valve casing A.
The top of the steam trap cover X is made with a circular chamber Y, in which
is fixed a circular cup Z, formed with a recess A¹, to hold mercury N. In the top
part of the circular cup works a vulcanite india-rubber or wrought-iron spindle B',
on which is formed a small valve C¹, which works in a seat formed in a bonnet D',
fitted on the top of the circular chamber Y. The top part of the circular cup is
drilled with air holes E¹, which open in the interior F¹ of the circular chamber Y.
The small air valve C¹ remains open until pressure or steam enters the trap, the air
being discharged through the air openings, and directly the air is expelled the steam
enters through the pipe G¹, which heats the mercury N in the cup Z, which expands
and lifts up the spindle B¹, closing the air valve C₁, and when the steam is shut off
the mercury N falls in the cup Z, and opens the air valve C¹.
In the inside of the steam trap is fitted a tap H', having a hollow plug 1¹, in
which is made an opening J to discharge the condensed water which passes through
the hollow plug and through the opening J¹ into the discharge pipe K'. The plug
is turned off and on by a lever L', which is fitted on a square piece M¹ cast on the
end of the plug. The lever L' is connected to the end of a spindle N', fitted in the
float O¹. On the top of the spindle is fitted a link P¹, which is connected to a
lever Q, which is fixed to a small shaft R¹ fitted in stuffing boxes S'. On the
shaft R' is also fitted a lever T¹, having a balance weight U. When the float O¹ is
lifted a sufficient height in the cylinder by the condensed water it causes the lever L'
to lift and turn the plug I', bringing the opening J in contact with the opening of
the discharge pipe K¹, allowing the condensed water to flow out.
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I do
claim is,
Firstly. The construction of diminishing or reducing valves operated by means of

page_text: mercury, substantially as herein-before described, and represented in the accom-
panying Drawing.
Secondly. The method of closing air valves for diminishing or reducing valves
and for steam traps (which may be used for other purposes) by the employment of
5 mercury, substantially as herein described, and represented by the Drawing
annexed.
Thirdly. The construction and employment of taps and hollow plugs, actuated
by the floats, for discharging the condensed water of steam traps, substantially as
herein-before described, and represented by the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hanson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
WILLIAM HANSON. (L.B.)