Improvements in Valves or Regulators for Gas and Chemical Works.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1894
'omplete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1895--Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves or Regulators for Gas and Chemical
Works.
We, THOMAS EBENEZER PYE, of The Mill House, Shrewsbury, in the County
of Salop, Gas Engineer, and CHARLES EDWARD SCULL, of Castle Street,
Shrewsbury, aforesaid, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to provide a valve for mains in gas or chemical works
which will not he rendered less serviceable by being allowed to remain for a long
time in an unaltered position and will not be a constant source of expense to keep
in repair.
It consists essentially of a valve constructed with a plunger, float or similar
mechanism by the movement of which a certain quantity of a suitable liquid is
displaced, and a small reservoir in which is contained a quantity of liquid the
movement in one direction and the displacement of the liquid consequent thereon,
forming a seal and closing the valve, and the movement in the opposite direction
allowing the liquid to flow back and open the valve.
This invention may be carried out in several ways either by moving or forcing
the plunger, float or other body, into the reservoir containing the liquid and thus
displacing it, or by forming the reservoir in and carrying the liquid in a movable
plunger or reservoir and moving it into contact with a stationary rim or seating
which displaces the liquid and forms the seal. The valve is adaptable to either
horizontal, vertical or inclined pipes merely by a modification of the arrangement
of the inlet and outlet chambers. The valve rod is also fitted with telescopic tube
to form a seal against escape of gas.
.
In one form of the apparatus designed for using a seal of water or other liquid
the valve is constructed with a reciprocating plunger or float moving to and fro in
a central or inlet chamber, the outlet chamber being placed on one side. Below
the plunger is a small chamber or a continuation of the central chamber large
enough for the plunger or float to enter which forms a reservoir to contain water
or other liquid with which it is filled up to about a level with the outlet (or the
inlet in case of that being the lower of the two).
The float or plunger is preferably provided with an annular flange or valve
face to fit onto a corresponding seating as security against a sudden excess of
pressure in which case an annular groove must be formed near its lower end to
provide the necessary gas way.
The actuating rod or spindle is surrounded by sealing tube to contain mercury
or other liquid to prevent the escape of gas.
By lowering the plunger or float in the reservoir containing the liquid the water
is displaced and rises in the other chambers to cover either the outlet or inlet or
both. It will be raised in the outlet chamber and depressed in the central chamber
in inverse proportion to the areas of the two. On raising the plunger or float
again the liquid will flow back into the reservoir and the gas way is fully
opened.
This construction of valve may be used as a drip syphon and valve combined,
the condensed liquor running into the reservoir and being utilised for the purpose
of forming the seal. In this case a seating will not be required and the valve is
fitted with a suction tube and other ordinary accessories to a drip syphon.

page_text: In a modified form of the apparatus designed for employing mercury as a seal
it is constructed with two plungers or floats one each in the inlet and outlet
chambers with a corresponding reservoir for each to hold the liquid. The rods or
spindles actuating the plungers or floats are connected together by a cross head or
other bar or connecting piece outside the valve chamber. Each spindle is provided
with a mercury or other seal to prevent escape and the valve is opened and closed
by raising or lowering the plungers.
In another modification the operation of the valve is reversed and the reservoir
to contain the mercury is constructed of an annular trough on a reciprocating
piston or plunger. The lower edge of the inlet or outlet chamber is made circular
and the plunger which is placed below is lifted until the edge of the chamber dips
into the trough and the mercury is thereby displaced therein forming a seal. The
edge of the outlet chamber may be caused to touch the bottom of the trough.
This arrangement may be reversed by making the plunger hollow or of inverted
dish form the lower edges of which will dip down into a trough containing the
liquid when lowered.
The valve rods or spindles may be raised or lowered by any convenient
mechanism.
By this invention we consider we obtain the following advantages.
a. An efficient control of the flow of gases from gas, chemical or other
works by means of the displacement or alteration of the level of a quantity of
liquid.
b. The condensed liquid in gas mains may be utilised for maintaining the valve
always in working order and the valve be also used as a mains drip syphon.
c. The absence of racks, pinions, wedges, springs, facings, packing glands or
other accessories of the ordinary gas valve.
Dated this 11th day of May 1804
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Valves or Regulators for Gas and Chemical
Works.
We, THOMAS EBENEZER PYE, of The Mill House, Shrewsbury, in the County
of Salop, Gas Engineer, and CHARLES EDWARD SCULL, of Castle Street,
Shrewsbury, aforesaid, Sanitary 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 is designed to provide a valve for mains in gas or chemical
works which will not be rendered less serviceable by being allowed to remain for a
long time in an unaltered position and will not be a constant source of expense to
keep in repair.
It consists essentially of a valve constructed with a plunger float or similar
mechanism by the movement of which a certain quantity of a suitable liquid is
displaced and a small reservoir in which is contained a quantity of liquid the
movement in one direction and the displacement of the liquid consequent thereon
forming a seal and closing the valve and the movement in the opposite direction
allowing the liquid to flow back and open the valve,
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. longitudinal sectional elevation of one form of the valve open.
Fig. 2. longitudinal sectional elevation of same closed,
Fig. 3. transverse sectional elevation of same.

page_text: Fig. 4. plan of same.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, similar views of another form of the valve with double
plungers.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, similar views of another form of the valve with a cupped
seating into which a hollow plunger projects.
Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 16 similar views of another form of the valve with a cupped
plunger to be raised to close the valve.
The casing A of the valve is constructed of any convenient shape or contour
with inlet and outlet orifices a al placed in any convenient position and it is
provided with a lid or cover all placed either on the top or bottom or both of
the casing A as desired to provide access to the operative parts of the valve.
The valve may be constructed in several ways to adapt the invention to
different requirements:-either by moving or forcing the plunger float or other
body B into the reservoir C containing the liquid and thus displacing it or by
forming the reservoir in and carrying the liquid in a movable plunger or
reservoir B and moving it into contact with a stationary rim or seating D.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 the valve is constructed with a reciprocating plunger
or float B moving to and fro in the chamber E. The inlet a is at one side of the
chamber E and the outlet a' at the other and the chamber E is divided from the
inlet and outlet orifices by the diaphragms or division plates e ele". Between
the plates el ell a second chamber F is formed into which the sealing liquid is
displaced when the plunger B is lowered. Below the chamber E and plunger B is
a reservoir C large enough for the plunger to enter which contains water or other
liquid to form a seal with which it is filled up to about a level with the aperture o
in the plate el. The float or plunger is preferably provided with an annular flange
or valve face b to fit on to a corresponding seating b' as security against a sudden
excess of pressure in which case an annular groove b¹¹ is formed near its lower end
to provide the necessary gas way.
The actuating rod or spindle G is surrounded by sealing tube H to contain mercury
or other liquid to prevent the escape of gas.
By lowering the plunger or float B into the reservoir C containing the liquid the
water is displaced and rises in the chambers E and F to cover the aperture c in the
plate whether used for the inlet or outlet. It will be raised in the outlet
chamber F and depressed in the reservoir C in inverse proportion to the areas of
the two. On raising the plunger or float again the liquid will flow back into the
reservoir and the gas way is fully opened.
This construction of valve may be used as a drip syphon or well and valve
combined the condensed liquor running into the reservoir and being utilised for
the purpose of forming the seal. In this case a seating will not be required and the
valve is fitted with a suction tube by which the liquid can be pumped out of the
reservoir at intervals and other ordinary accessories to a drip syphon.
Referring to Figs. 5 to 8 the apparatus is shown as designed for employing
mercury as a seal and to employ only a small quantity of the liquid. It is
constructed with two plungers or floats B B with two corresponding chambers E E¹
the base or bottom of these chambers form a shallow reservoir C for the mercury
or other sealing liquid. The two chambers E E are divided by a diaphragm or
division plate e with an aperture c at the bottom connecting the two chambers.
Between the inlet and outlet a a' there are formed chambers F and F separated
from the chambers E E¹ by the division plates el ell in these plates there are
apertures ff through which the gas flows. The rods G G' may be hollow and be
guided by stays gl affixed to the bottom.
The rods or spindles G G actuating the plungers B B' are connected together
by a cross head g or other connecting piece outside the valve chamber. Each
spindle is surrounded by a sealing tube H and provided with mercury or other
liquid forming a seal to prevent the escape of gas. The valve is opened and closed
by raising and lowering the plungers B B when they are lowered they displace
the mercury or other liquid contained in the reservoir C which rises in the

page_text: chambers E E and covers the aperture c in the division plate e and thus prevents
any flow of the gas through the apparatus from one chamber to the other.
Referring to Figs. 9 to 12 the apparatus is constructed with a plunger B of
inverted hollow or dish shaped form with downwardly projecting edges b which
fits into a groove C forming a reservoir to hold the sealing liquid. This groove C.
is placed around the aperture c through which the gas passes. When the valve is
closed the plunger B covers the aperture e and the edge b fits into the reservoir C
becoming immersed in the liquid therein which is thereby displaced and rising
around the edge & forms a seal and prevents the gas passing through. The rod
or spindle. G is provided with a tube H to form a seal around it to prevent the
escape of gas..
b
Referring to Figs. 13 to 16 a modification of the invention is shown in which
the operation of the valve or plunger is reversed. The reciprocating piston or
plunger B is constructed with an annular, groove or trough C forming a reservoir.
for the mercury or other sealing liquid. The lower edge of the aperture c is made
with a flange projecting downwards which when the plunger B is raised dips into
the reservoir C and the mercury (or other liquid) is thereby displaced therein
forming a seal. The flange around the aperture c may be sufficiently deep to touch
the bottom of the trough or a seating may be otherwise formed if found desirable
to be employed in addition to the mercury seal.
In each case the valve spindle or rods G may be raised and lowered by a direct
pull or thrust on the handle J and. when the handle and spindle are pulled up they
may be held in position by a pivoted catch such as K which can be easily moved
when it is desired to lower them.
These valves inay be applied to either horizontal vertical or inclined pipes by
merely altering or modifying the arrangement and position of the inlet and outlet
orifices.
In each case provision is made, by removable plugs, sight holes, or otherwise,
by which the amount of sealing liquid present or the level of same may be
ascertained at any moment and at any position of the valve plungers.
By this invention we consider we obtain the following advantages:-
a. An efficient control of the flow of gases from gas chemical or other
works by means of the displacement or alteration of the level of a quantity of
liquid.
b. The condensed liquid in gas mains may be utilised for maintaining the valve:
always in working order and the valve be also used as a mains drip syphon.
c. The absence of racks pinions wedges springs facings packing glands or other
accessories of the ordinary gas valve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A valve constructed with a plunger or piston in combination with an aperture
through which the gas flows a reservoir coutaining a quantity of a suitable liquid
which is displaced when the valve is closed and rises to cover the aperture
through which the gas flows or to form a seal around such aperture substantially as
described.
2. A valve for gas mains having the several parts .constructed and arranged in
combination substantially as described with reference either to Figs. 1 to 4 Figs. 5
to 8 Figs. 9 to 12 or Figs. 13 to 16 of the drawings..
Dated this 56
1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.