An Improved Means for Regulating Steam Supply to Cylinders.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1894-Accepted. 25th Aug. 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means for Regulating Steam Supply to Cylinders.
I GILES MORGAN WILLIAMS of Hendregwilym, Penygraig, near Pontypridd,
Glamorganshire, Gentleman, 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 to an improved means by which the steam supplied to the
cylinders of steam engines or like apparatus, can be kept at an approximately
constant pressure.
The device consists of a small cylinder with a piston, having a piston rod
projecting for some distance through one end of the cylinder.
The lower end of this cylinder is connected with the pipe leading to the engine
cylinder by a small tube, having a stop cock to cut off the steam when required.
In the upper part of the cylinder is placed a spring bearing on the upper side of
the piston. This spring balances the steam pressure on the under side, allowing
the piston to rise according to the pressure of the steam.
Instead of using a metal spring the pressure may be balanced by the compression
of the air in the upper part of the cylinder.
The piston rod is formed with a rack extension, which engages with a toothed
wheel, fitted to the regulating valve.
On the piston being raised by the pressure of the steam in the cylinder, the
valve is partially closed the amount to which the wheel is turned varying with
the pressure.
When the pressure decreases, the piston falls, and the valve is
opened.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. I is a front and Fig. 2 a side
elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 3 a section of a slight modification.
A is the steam pipe leading to the engine cylinder, and having the ordinary
regulating valve a at any suitable point. This valve is furnished with a toothed
wheel B in place of or in addition to the ordinary hand wheel. A short distance
below this valve is placed the regulating cylinder C fitted to any suitable part of
the apparatus, and connected with the steam supply pipe A. by a small connecting
tube D, furnished with a stop cock by which the steam can be admitted to or cut
off from the cylinder C. Within this cylinder, is fitted the piston E with piston
rod e extending through the top of the cylinder and passing through the guides a¹
on the steam pipe A.
This rod is formed with a rack e at its upper part which engages with the
toothed wheel B turning it, as the piston moves, up or down.
The spring is placed in the cylinder C on top of the piston to balance the
pressure of the steam.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the cylinder is reversed, being suspended
and the piston rod passing through the lower end. In this case the steam is
admitted to the face of the piston from which the rod projects, the air pressure at
the back serving in place of the spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
--
1. An improved means for regulating the steam supply to engine cylinders,
consisting of a cylinder connected at one end to the steam pipe, a piston working in

page_text: the cylinder with piston rod having a rack, a spring or air cushion bearing against
the said piston, and a toothed wheel on the regulating valve engaging with the rack,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. The improved apparatus for regulating the steam supply to engine cylinders,
constructed and operating substantially in the manner described and shown in the
accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 21st day of June 1894
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.