Year: 1886

page_text: 345 4333
I, JULES DERY, of 18 Rue du Marteau, Brussels, Belgium, 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 will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings.
The apparatus consists of a cylindrical box (see Figure 1) bored at its lower end
to form an opening O O, with a conical seating, which gives passage to the gas
conducted to the lower part by the feed pipe t.
This opening O is closed (more or less) by an inverted conical topped valve B
the position of which is regulated by the height of the drum or dome c c which
is raised by the current of gas passing through the opening OO, see Figure 8,
which shews different forms of drums or domes. This drum or dome c, c has the
peculiarity of being convex, or of a hollow cone shape, and moving vertically upon
a solid part A A which is also of a convex, or inverted cone shape; and allows
the gas to enter by the central opening O O Figure 1. In the raised position of
the drum or dome the gas passage is almost closed, and in its lower position the
annular space by which the fluid passes is much increased. The drum or dome
itself, by carrying the valve B serves as a second regulator acting above the first,
it also serves to lessen the successive shocks which are felt in other regulators
having but one valve
The drum or dome c, c is connected to the valve B by a stem T, upon which is
provided a vertical spring R, which acts by pressure in such manner that when
there is no gas passing through, the drum or dome occupies the lower position,
then the inlet is opened to its greatest extent; the drum or dome is supported
upon small studs, not shown in the drawings, which prevent it coming in contact
with the bottom of the chamber.
To regulate the passage of the gas, it is only necessary to act upon the spring R
by means of a screw nut E, to which access is obtained, from the exterior, by
removing the casing S S which serves to cover the nut after regulating, so as to
prevent the escape of any gas which might pass the screw threads of the nut. The
gas passes from the box by one or two tubes &¹t" which lead to the burner.
"

page_text: Another means of regulating the apparatus and of pressing the spring is by
using an annular segment F hollowed out to a conical form inside as shewn in
Figures 3 and 4. This segment slides in the interior of the cylindrical box D
where it can assume different positions according to the manner in which it is
actunted from the outside by the screw V turned by the two arms b b' which screw
regulates the height to be given to said segment, and consequently the annular
space left for the passage of the fluid between this segment and the movable drum
or dome.
In this case the drum acts by its own weight, augmented if necessary, by the
addition of weighted washers.
The regulation is then accomplished 1st by the action of the drum upon the
conical valve B, and upon the space comprised between the fixed conical base and
the drum; and 2ndly by the annular opening left between the segment, actuated
by the screw, and the external surface of the drum.
To provide a good regulation of the drum the conical valve B is furnished
externally with wing pieces, which move in a fixed cylinder, as shewn in section
in Figure 4.
This arrangement of regulator is adapted for regulating the pressure of gas
to a single burner. In this case it is desired to maintain an equal pressure at the
burner, though the pressure of the gas on arrival at the inlet tube t may vary.
Figure 2 represents the approximate size of such an apparatus applicable to an
ordinary street burner.
In the event of great nicety of regulation not being required, the action of the
spring, Figure 1, may be dispensed with; in which case the drum or dome c, c
and the conical valve B would act simply by their own weight. The valve B may
even be dispensed with, the pressure being regulated only by the drum or dome c c.
Figures 5 and 6 shew this arrangement. The apparatus is then reduced to the
greatest simplicity..
It then consists of an inlet tube t (Figure 5); drum or dome c c guided in
cylindrical box B, and a cover H with a hole bored through the upper part t¹ for
allowing the gas to pass to burner.
Upon the internal circumference of the box B are formed one or two vertical
grooves a, a¹ narrowing from the bottom to the top. To obtain a good guidance
for the drum or dome, the latter is cylindrical, the narrowing necessary to make it
conical being obtained by a horizontal compression of the metal towards the bottom
as shewn in Figure 8 N° 2. This form is more easily obtained in practice than the
hollow cone, and answers the same purpose, since the more the drum is raised by
the pressure of gas, the more the annular space between the fixed socket formied
with conical exterior and the lower flange or edge of the interior of the drum or
dome is diminished. It is this diminution of the passage which produces the
regulation of the pressure or supply.
The groove a, a¹ formed in the side of box B, larger at the lower end a than
at the upper end a¹ serves also to increase the sensitiveness of the apparatus; at
the same time allowing any dirt to fall through, that might otherwise cling to the
grooves. The bottom is inclined, see Figures 5 and 6, and at the lowest part
a screw V may be placed, to allow of a complete cleaning of the apparatus with
alcohol without disconnecting same. It must be understood that this modification
of the details is equally applicable to all the figures shown.
For large supplies and very high pressure the combination as illustrated in
Figure 6 is specially adapted. The regulating drum is cylindrical to a certain
height, and then is formed conical, the opening at bottom of same being made
smaller by a solid part (see Figure 8, No 4). The upper part of the cover is also
formed conical, thus when the drum influenced by an increase in the pressure,
rises, it reduces first the space round, the lower part of the periphery, and then
that round the upper part. Two grooves a, a¹; b, b' always formed of a smaller
section towards the top, serve to conduct the gas to the external tube t'.

page_text: Figures 1 to 6 illustrate the apparatus as supplied by inlet tube t and serving
simply to reduce the pressure. The apparatus as thus shown is intended to
regulate the pressure to one burner only, keeping same constant however the
pressure may vary at the inlet tube.
In the case of the regulator having to equalize the pressure of a number of
burners the apparatus is formed, first with a double bottom with drum and valvė;
and is provided besides with a second drum as shewn in Figure 7 which represents
a high pressure regulator, suitable for use in lighting trains for example.
Let P stand for the pressure of gas at inlet; P¹ the pressure in the intermediate
chamber where the two drums are; and p the pressure in the pipes leading to
burners.
The valve B and the drum c, c serve to maintain, as before described, a constant
pressure (P¹) in the intermediate chamber. But upon the stem or rod T connecting
the drum c, c, to the spring R, there is a second drum c¹, cl sliding with slight
friction upon this stem or rod between two stops all all. This second drum is
constructed upon the same principle as the lower one; but in the upper position
it leaves a maximum annular space, while in the lower position the annular space
left is the minimum. Consequently this drum being enabled to move freely upon
the rod T follows the fluctuations of the pressure (p) which it is desired to
maintain in the pipe leading to burners.
If (p) increases the drum c c is forced downwards and the gas passage
outwards to the burner is reduced: If (p) decreases the reverse effect is produced.
In either case with a suitable weighting of the drum of the pressure (p) will
be constant. Thus the lower valve B and the drum c, c serve to reduce the
pressure P to an intermediate constant pressure P¹ and the drum c¹ c¹ serves more
especially to regulate the pressure in the burner pipes in accordance with the
number of burners lighted. There are then moments of equilibrium for the two
drums and the valve, such that the result is the maintenance of (p) constant
however P varies.
The same object may also be attained by the use of two small regulators as
shewn in Figure 5 care being taken to mount the second in the reverse way to the
first, that is to say so that the tube t¹ of the first apparatus accords with the tube t¹
of the second. The second drum will then be reversed and will act so as to
regulate the pressure in the burner pipes in accordance with the number of
burners lighted.
For very high pressures, as for example, in the lighting of trains, where the
gas is under a pressure of 10 atmospheres or even more, the gas is not admitted
into the lower chamber until it has passed through a moderator or governor M to
preliminary reduce the pressure. In other cases there is no need for this moderator
or governor, and the gas enters direct through the opening 0 0.
Under the regulator Figure 7, may be fitted a screw cap V which will allow
access to, and the withdrawal of, the valve B. It also serves to collect the
impurities contained in the fluid. All the parts of this apparatus are of metal;
there is no india rubber or leather employed which gets hard by time, no liquid
such as mercury glycerine &c, to thicken or evaporate.
To prevent rust the drums or domes and the internal fittings may be of steatite,
aluminium or other inoxydizable material.
The construction of the annular gas passages is so calculated that when the drum
is at half stroke, the final pressure is obtained with an average pressure at the inlet
pipe. For every increase of the latter pressure the annular passages are decreased;
and inversely, increased when such pressure decreases.
Figures 1 to 7 shew the drums at the highest part of the stroke, that is to say
with the passages at their smallest; and Figure 8 shews the drums of different
shapes at half stroke that is to say with a mean section for escape.
To sum up, the apparatus is an automatic pressure regulator for gas, or other
fluid, for liquids or steam, the final pressure being obtained by the action of
one or more drums of special construction acting as valves. One of these drums

page_text: actuating an ordinary valve. The adjustment. of the apparatus being performed
from the outside either by turning a screw nut acting upon a spring fitted to one
of the drums and to the valve stem (Figure 1); or by a screw pressing an annular
segment which regulates the free space by which the fluid passes Figures 3 and 4.
Or by the own weight of the drum (Figure 5) and the position of the external
cup Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In apparatus for regulating the pressure of gas, liquids, fluids and steam, the
drum o acting either with or without the valve B for the purpose of automatically
enlarging or decreasing the exit passages in accordance with the pressure of the
gas, liquid, fluid or steam at inlet substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus for regulating the pressure of gas, liquids, fluids, and steam, the
construction of the cylindrical box or branch D with internal conical seating for
valve B, and external convex or conical part A over which the drum o rises and
falls substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In apparatus for regulating the pressure of gas, liquids, fluids and steam the
methods of adjustment of the apparatus consisting of spring R attached to valve
stem T and to screw nut E Figure 1; and also of thumb screw V acting upon
segment F Figures 3 and 4 substantially as set forth.
4. In apparatus for regulating the pressure of gas, liquids, fluids and steam as
above described the application of a second drum c¹ (Figure 7), sliding freely upon
the stem carried by the first drum c substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.
5. The general construction and arrangement of apparatus for regulating the
pressure of gas, liquids, fluids and steam substantially as herein before set forth
and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.