Improved Apparatus for Regulating the Flow of Compressed Gases.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 18th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Regulating the Flow of Compressed
Gases.
ALEXANDER THOMAS CLARKSON of 28 Bartlett's Buildings London E.C. Scientific
Instrument Maker and JAMES BLEUVITT SPURGE of 4 Reede Villas North Street
Romford Essex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to apparatus for use with gases that are
contained under pressure in cylinders or vessels for convenience of transport.
The object of which is to obtain a uniform flow of the gas at a constant and
conveniently reduced pressure. It can also be applied to other purposes wherein a
constant pressure is required to be maintained from a source sometimes greatly in
excess of that amount. We are aware that attempts have been made to effect this with
more or less success.
The object of our invention is to obtain a more accurate result over a greater range
of pressure than has hitherto been accomplished. In its application for the purpose
of regulating the flow of the compressed gases used for the production of the lime light
the pressure can be much more closely approximated to the conditions that are found
to exist when the supply is derived from gas bags and pressure boards.
In carrying out our invention we employ two or more pieces of apparatus identical
in their action but differing in their construction, which are placed in communication
with one another seriatum forming a duplex or triplex system of pressure reduction
respectively.
The advantage of this arrangement is to secure that any defects in the action of
the first will be corrected by the second and so forth until the required approximation
is attained.
The first portion of this invention is intended to reduce to nearly what is required
any pressure rangeing up to 150 atmospheres. This is accomplished by a specially
designed mechanical movement for operating a valve the object of which is to increase
the mechanical advantage very rapidly at the point of closing to almost infinity in
order that the maximum effect can be exerted to shut it.
Another advantage of this arrangement arises from the fact that directly the valve
has commenced to open the mechanical advantage decreases rapidly and thus permits
a greater movement of the valve, than would otherwise occur for a given displacement.
of the primary portion of the movement. The result of this enables the pressure to
be maintained with a great fall in the pressure from the source of supply. By the
application of this principle in actuating the valve it ensures effective action over a
greatly extended range of pressures than hitherto. The apparatus fulfilling these
conditions consists essentially of an expanding chamber bag or box having a flexible
side or end provided with two suitable openings for communicating with its interior.
The flexible side or end which behaves as a diaphragm is pressed inwards by means
of a spring preferably unade of steel, the tension of which can be adjusted to counteract
any pressure from within tending to force the diaphragm outwards. To the flexible
portion or diaphragm either rigidly or by means of a connecting piece is attached rods
or scroll or cam shaped pieces which are so arranged that any movement of the
diaphragm shall partially rotate or rock them upon axes or pivots fixed within the
chamber or box. These scroll or cam shaped pieces or rods are further arranged upon
being rotated to press forward a conical or parabolic shaped plug into one of the
openings of the chamber which is in communication with the supply for the purpose
of controlling the flow of gas. The force pressing this plug forward relative to that
exerted upon the diaphragm can be made to bear any desired ratio by the shape
Prime021

page_text: given to the scroll or cam shaped pieces or by altering the length of the rods which
ratio can also he made to vary with every position of the plug relative to the
opening.
".
The second portion of this invention consists in attaching to the other opening
a second expandable chamber similar to the first with the exception that the conical or
parabolic shaped valve can be connected directly to its diaphragm.
This can be arranged to advance or receede into the opening by its direct action in
a similar manner to the regulators used for reducing the pressure in the distribution
of coal gas.
Another importent application of this invention will be to provide means of
obtaining with various gases a constant degree of aeration of water or other
preparation used in medicine. It could also be employed for elevating thein by
maintaining a constant pressure of any suitable gas upon their surfaces so that
by the simple opening of a valve communicating with it, a continuous supply
could be obtained at any height above where they are stored.
Dated this 18th day of July 1889
ALEXANDER THOMAS CLARKSON.
JAMES B. SPURGE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Regulating the Flow of Compressed Gases.
ALEXANDER THOMAS CLARKSON, of 28 Bartlett's Buildings London E..
Scientific Instrument Maker, and JAMES BLEWITT SPURGE, 4 Reede Villas North
Street Romford Essex Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates more particularly to apparatus for use with gases that are
contained in cylinders or vessels for convenience of transport. It can also be
applied to other purposes wherein a constant pressure is required to be maintained
from a source sometimes greatly in excess and variable in amount.
As instances of some of its applications. The regulation of nitrous oxide for
anrosthetical purposes.
In the preparation of aerated waters, beverages, and
medicinal compounds. Transporting and elevating liquids for convenience of sale
etcetra.
Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawings shows in section a regulator constructed in
accordence with our invention and provided with the scroll or cam shaped piece d,
for actuating the valve V. In Fig. Il is shown diagramatically another method of
actuating V, by means of rocking pieces or levers m m³, f being a fixed point upon
which m' rotates. B Fig. I consists of a circular box or casting with a partition
extending across it. Upon the upper and lower part is secured flexible covers b,
preferably of india rubber and sometimes in combination with canvas sheeting.
These behave as diaphragms and form two expanding chambers u, u. Screw threads
are formed upon the outside of B for the purpose of holding the covers C, C¹ which
retain the spiral springs S S' and protect the diaphragms from injury.
Into the side of B is inserted a piece / preferably of drawn brass screwed at one
end and provided with a suitable means of attachment to the source of supply at
the other. Through the centre of this, a passage J is formed, the diameter being
suddenly increased at p. Into the larger passage a parabolic or conical tipped
cylinderical piece V preferably of German silver is fitted to slide easily, portions
from the cylinder parellel with its axis being removed in order to provide a way past
it through the passage.
Upon the interior end of his screwed a piece e, to hold the pinion upon which the
cam d rotates. Into the can d is secured the arm R which has threaded upon it
the piece n.
The other end of n is provided with a shoulder, screw and nut, for
clamping it by means of the discs CC'securely to the centre of b. The outlet to this

page_text: chamber U, provides the inlet to U. At the centre of the partition g, a hole is made,
a recess being formed round it to contain an elastic collar or seating t. Concentric
with a conical or parabolic shaped head mounted upon a stem piece is held, by a
similar attachment as n to the diaphragm . The outlet for the chamber U¹ consists
of a bent tube fixed into the partition g, and passing through the side of B forming
the outlet of the regulator O.
The action is as followes. The inlet J being supplied with gas under pressure,
passes through the passages and fills the chambers serialum; thence through the
outlet. Now supposing the outlet to be stopped, the pressure would accumulate in U',
distend 6 and draw towards and check the flow until the pressure exerted
upon is equivalent to the tension givin by S¹ a greater pressure closing it.
Scan easily be made to exert a tension equivalent to pressures varying from 1
to 24 inches of water. The effect of stopping the flow from U to U¹ would
cause to behave in a similar manner, when the cam d would rotate and thrust V
towards the contraction in the passage at p, and ultimately close it. The tension
exerted by S can also casily be made equivalent to pressures varying from two to
ten inches of mercury. The tensions given to S & S consequently determine the
pressure at which their respective valves commence to open, to maintain the
supply.
The advantage arising from the employment of the cam shaped piece d, or
the rocking pieces m m Fig. Il, is that for a given movement of R the distance
traversed by V, can be reduced when moving towards p, and consequently the
mechanical advantage is considerably augmented at the point of closing. And
conversly after V has left its seating it decreases rapidly and permits it to move a
greater distance for a given movement of R than would otherwise be possible.
The effect of these improvements ensures efficient action over a greater range of
pressures than hitherto, and at a less outlet pressure, the supply being maintained
until the inlet pressure has fallen to of an atmosphere.
Having now particularly described the nature of our invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is
1. The application of the mechanical movements involved, including the cam d
Fig. I and levers m m' Fig. II, for the regulation of gases under pressure, substantially
as herein described.
II. The mode of arranging the various parts in one case or box, for reducing the
pressure in two stages, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 18th day of April 1890.
JAMES B. SPURGE.
ALEXANDER T. CLARKSON.