Automatic Regulator for Steam and other Pumps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 188
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Automatic Regulator for Steam and other Pumps.
We, RALPH DowWSON, JOHN TAYLOR, and EDWARD ROBERTS, of the firm of
Dowson, Taylor, & Co. "Limited," Blackfriar's Bridge, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Fire Engineers. do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to a device whereby the water pressure on the discharge side
of a pump is arranged to automatically control the admittance of steam to the cylinder
of the pump, and consists of an ordinary balanced steam stop valve and a casing or
box; the latter containing two flexible diaphragms, or their equivalents, of differential
areas, one acting against the other. The flexible diaphragms are attached to or act
upon a spindle which passes through a stuffing box to the said steam valve.
convenient place, and so arranged as to press against the larger diaphragm and
also to open the steam valve, is provided a spiral or other spring under tension or its
equivalent.
At a
This apparatus operates as follows:-As soon as the water pressure on the discharge
side of the pump, which is connected through a pipe to the box or casing so as to
operate upon the flexible diaphragms or their equivalents, attains the pressure at
which the regulator is set to maintain-by means of the spring or its equivalent-the
pressure acting upon the greater area of the larger diaphragin overcomes the spiral
spring or its equivalent and closes the steam valve sufficiently to either stop or reduce
the speed of the pump. When the water pressure is reduced the action of the
regulator is reversed by the spring or its equivalent, and the pump moves forward
with such speed as is necessary to raise the pressure to the required point again.
Another feature of this invention consists in so arranging the apparatus that in case
either of the flexible diaphragms burst or give way steam is at once shut off and
In this
communication made to a suitable alarm outside the building or otherwise.
case the steam valve is closed by means of the released pressure from the flexible
diaphragms acting upon a suitable dash-pot or its equivalent mounted on the
apparatus, and of such an area to overcome the power or tension of the spring or its
equivalent.
The principle of this invention is to obtain in an automatic regulator considerable
traverse or movement with perfect freedom from friction, to reduce to a minimum the
balancing power required from a spring or its equivalent, which would be considerable
if only one flexible diaphragm was employed, and to automatically shut off the
steam, at the same time giving an alarm in case of accident to the apparatus.
This latter arrangement is also applicable to any other kind of flexible diaphragm
regulator.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Amit
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Regulator for Steam and other Pumps.
We, RALPH DowSON, JOHN TAYLOR, and EDWARD ROBERTS, of the firm of
Dowson, Taylor, & Co. "Limited," Blackfriars Bridge, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Fire Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 a device whereby the water pressure on the discharge side

page_text: spring R; the latter being operated upon by the plate S and nut T to place the same
under compression, so that its tendency is to act against the largest diaphragm K,
and also to open the valves a and b of the throttle valve box E. The spindle Lis
connected to the valve spindle L' by the right and left hand threaded nut U; the -
latter being for the purpose of adjustment. On the nut. is disposed the dish t to
collect water or liquid that may trickle down the valve spindle L' from the valve
box E. The pipe tc is provided to convey liquid from the dish t to any desired point.
The spindle L passes through the stuffing box L² of the valve:box E and is fitted with
the valves a and 6 of the usual description operating in .conjunction with the valve
seatings c and d. On the underside of the casing or box I is disposed the dash-pot V
and piston W, for the purpose of shutting off steam by closing the valves a-nnd.b.in
case either of the flexible diaphragins J and K give way or burst. The piston W
is connected to the bottom end of the spindle L and is provided with the openings Q
and the valve X.
This apparatus operates in the following manner :-As soon as the water pressure
on the discharge side D of the pump B-which is connected by the pipes H to the
cavity or chamber N so as to operate upon the flexible diaphragms J and K or their
equivalents, such as, the pistons of differential areas in Figs. 8 and 9-attains the
pressure at which the regulator G is set to maintain-by means of the spring.R.or
its equivalent the pressure acting upon the area of the diaphragm K overcomes.the
spiral spring R or its equivalent and closes the valves a and b of the throttle or
regulating valve E sufficiently to either stop or reduce the speed of the pump.
Immediately the pressure of water is reduced on the discharge side of the pump the
pressure in the chamber or cavity N is reduced in equal ratio, consequently the
flexible diaphragms J anil K are overcome by the spiral spring R or its equivalent,
which opens the valves a and b and supplies steam to the cylinder A, causing the
pump to be set in motion until such times as the water on itho discharge side is
raised to the required point or pressure again, when the spring R or its equivalent is
overcome and the valves a and b closed again.
In case the flexible diaphragm J gives way or bursts the water under pressure in
the chamber or cavity N will pass through the pipe into the chamber underneath
the diaphragm K by the pipe 9, where it will act upon the piston W in the dash-pot.V
and move the same in a downward direction and close the valves arand h. The
spindle L is provided with the.opening or passage & leading to the spring box Pito
allow of water or liquid under the piston W passing through the same in case the
pressure on the valve X is in excess of that below the piston. Should the flexible
diaphragm K give way or burst the water under pressure in the chamber or cavity N
will pass through the pipe g into the chamber above the flexible diaphragm J by the
pipe, thus destroying the action of the diaphragms. The outlet h is smaller in
diameter than the inlet H. In this case also the released pressure will operate on the
piston Win the dash-pot Vas before described to close the valves a and b. When
either of the said flexible diaphragms burst or give way the released pressure
will also make its way up the pipe h to a suitable alarm either inside or outside the
building.
Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation of the lower end of the casing or .box I
provided with the flexible diaphragm W and cap V in lieu of the piston Wand dash-
pot V in Fig. 2.
The piston or diaphragm W in either case is of such an area as to overcome
the power or tension of the spring R or its equivalent by the action of the released
pressure thereon.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification of our improved regulator when
applied to an equilibrium throttle valve with inverted valves which close by an upward
movement. To suit this arrangement the pressure from the discharge side D of the
pump B is conveyed to the outsides of the flexible diaphragms J and K by the pipes H.
The area of the flexible diaphragm K being the greatest of the two the valves a and b
are kept closed so long as the pressure is maintained to overcome the power of the

page_text: spring R. In this modification the dash-pot V and piston W are placed on the upper
side of the casing or box I, and the former is connected to the internal chamber or
cavity N by the pipe g. The stuffing box through which the spindle I. passes from
the box or casing to the dash-pot. W is composed of the hydraulic cup leathery held
in position in its seat by the bar we and set-screws =. Should either of the flexible
diaphragms J and K give way or burst the water under pressure will pass through
the pipe g to the underside of the piston W and overcome the power of the spring R
and close the valves a and b, and at the same time pass up the pipe h to an
alarm as before described. In this modification the valve box E is provided with
the bridge piece R¹, between which and the plate S the spiral spring R is held in
compression on the spindle 1.
Fig. is an outside view of our improved arrangement shown in Fig. 4, wherein
the spiral spring R is dispensed with the weights S¹ being employed in lieu thereof.
Fig. 6 is a part side elevation of Fig. 5 wherein the lever and weight are
substituted for the weights S¹. The lever vis pivoted to the stud by the pin ki, and
to the spindle L by the links p' and pins p². This arrangement is employed in case
inverted valves a and are employed as in Fig. 4. In case the valves a and b
are made on the principle of those shown in Fig. 2, the lever and its appendages
are arranged as in Fig. 7 to open the valves in case of a reduction of pressure on the
discharge side of the pump.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of our improved regulator wherein pistons of
differential areas are employed in place of flexible diaphragms. The casing or box 1
is composed of two cylinders of differential areas fitted with the pistons J and K
mounted on the spindle L. In this modification the pressure from the discharge
side of the pump is conveyed between the pistons by the pipe H as in the case of
their equivalents in Fig. 2. The remaining parts are similar in construction and
action to those described in Fig. 2. If desired the spiral spring R can be substituted
with the lever and weight arrangement shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of our improved regulator wherein the pressure from
the discharge side of the pump B is conveyed to the outside of the differential
pistons and K by the pipes H as in the case of their equivalents in Fig. 4. The
remaining parts of this modification are similar in construction and action to those
described in Fig. 4. If desired the spiral spring R can be substituted with the
weights S¹ shown in Fig. 5, or with the lever and weight arrangement shown in Fig. 6.
We would have it understood that we lay no claim to the use, construction, and
arrangement of the equilibrium or other steam regulating valve box E and the valves
and seats contained therein.
Having thus stated the nature of our invention and described the mode of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise
details or configuration of the parts shown and described as the same may be varied
or modified without departing from the principle of our invention, but what we claim
and desire to be secured to us by Letters patent is :-
1. In an automatic regulator designed for controlling the admittance of steam to
the steam cylinder of a pump the use and employment of two diaphragms or their
-equivalents one acting against the other and so arranged that the pressure from the
discharge side of the pump acts upon the same, in combination with a spring or
its equivalent in connection therewith substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In an automatic pressure regulator, as described and set forth in the preceding
claim, the combination with the diaphragms or their equivalents of a dash-pot and
piston or their equivalents and openings or passages to convey pressure to the dash-
pot or its equivalent substantially as described for the purpose specified.
3. Connecting automatic pressure regulators used in connection with steam pumps
to an alarm so as to indicate should the apparatus become defective substantially as
described and set forth.

page_text: 4. The combination, construction, and arrangement of parts forming the respective
modifications of our improved automatic pressure regulator, applied and operating
substantially as described and as shown on the drawings.
Dated the 31st July 1889.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.