IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GASES AND LIQUIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Macintyre of 11 Atherton Road, Forest Gate,
London, in the County of Essex, Engineer for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GASES AND LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Macintyre at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th August 1882.
ROBERT MACINTYRE, of 11 Atherton Road Forest Gate in the County of Essex
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GASES
AND LIQUIDS'
This Invention relates to apparatus for the purpose of regulating with respect
to time and quantity the flow of steam gas water or other liquids. and the
mechanism by which the time and quantity may be varied or adjusted at will.
Generally speaking the apparatus consists of two parts, that is to say, a valve
through which the steam gas water or other liquids pass and another valve or
cylinder so arranged and connected with the first that the combination will shut
off the flow after a given time, which may have been previously decided upon.
The first named valve is in many respects similar to what is called a globular
steam valve but I prefer making the valve disc to open against or close with the
pressure.
The spindle of which this valve or disc forms a part has a double threaded screw
or another of equally quick pitch so that a sufficient area may be opened by little
more than a complete turn of the same.
This screw works in a nut which is fitted loosely into the bottom cap of
the valve.
On the other or projecting end of the valve spindle and outside of the stuffing
box I fix a hollow wheel or disc inside of which I place a flat spiral spring, one end
being attached to the disc and the other to a stud fixed into the body of the valve.
The object of this spring is to close the valve when the regulating mechanism
relieves it of the tension due to the action of opening it.
D

page_text: The circumference of the before mentioned hollow wheel is grooved to take a
piece of chain which forms a connection between the two portions of the
apparatus but I may under some circumstances find it more convenient to make
the connexion by mere of a rack and pinion or other suitable mechanism.
The second portion of the apparatus consists of a cylinder with either a cup
leather or tight fitting piston working in mercury oil glycerine or other liquid.
This Cylinder has a passage communicating with both ends and is provided with
a screw valve or tap with a disc graduated to minutes or other portions of time
during which the valve may have to be kept open.
This passage admits of the liquid being transferred quickly to one end of the
cylinder when the piston is drawn to the other but is instantly closed by means
of a valve so that the liquid must return more or less slowly as may be desired by
the smaller passage regulated by the graduated valve or tap already referred to.
In some cases I attach the regulating piston rod direct to the valve spindle
thereby saving space as the herein before mentioned hollow wheel and chain may
be dispensed with.
When the apparatus is fixed in position as on the front of a boiler filled with
stean jets or nozzles for consuming the smoke and it is desired to cut off the
supply automatically at the end of a given time. I set. the regulator in action by
means of a rod and levers connected with the furnace door.
On opening the door the steam valve and regulator as herein before described
are effected simultaneously so as to allow steam to pass through for a given time
after the fuel has been put into the furnace, then by the action of the regulator
and steam valve the supply is cut off and unnecessary waste due to carelessness
entirely prevented.
There are cases in which I prefer to attach to the steam valve already described
a regulator composed of a simple form of Clock work
This consists mainly of a balance wheel and a simple escapement, the motive
power being a weight drawn up by the action of the furnace door or the spring
on the valve spindle may be made to act instead of the weight, the whole being
automatic and capable of being regulated with regard to time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Macintyre in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd February 1883.
ROBERT MACINTYRE of 11 Atherton Road Forest Gate London in the County of
Essex Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF
GASES AND LIQUIDS."
My Invention relates to apparatus for the purposes of regulating with respect to
time and quantity the flow of steam gas water or other liquids and the mechanism
by which the time and quantity may be varied or adjusted at will.
Generally speaking the apparatus consists of two parts that is to say a valve
through which the steam gas water or other liquids pass and another valve or
cylinder so arranged and connected with the first that the combination will shut
off the flow after a given time which may have been previously decided upon.
The first named valve is in many respects similar to what is called a globular
steam valve but I prefer making the valve disc to open against and close with the
pressure
The spindle of which this valve or disc forms a part has a double threaded screw
or another of equally quick pitch so that a sufficient area may be opened by little
more than a complete turn of the same.
This screw works in a nut which is fitted loosely into the bottom cap of
the valve.
On the other or projecting end of the valve spindle and outside of the stuffing
box, I fix a hollow wheel or disc inside of which I place a flat spiral spring one
end being attached to the disc and the other to a stud fixed into the body of
the valve.
The object of this spring is to close the valve when the regulating mechanism
relieves it of the tension due to the action of opening it.
The circumference of the before mentioned hollow wheel is grooved to take a
piece of chain which forms the connection between the two portions of the
apparatus but I may under some circumstances find it more convenient to make
the connection by means of a rack and pinion or other suitable mechanism.
The second portion of the apparatus consists of a cylinder with either a cup
leather or tight fitting piston working in mercury oil glycerine or other liquid.
This cylinder has a passage communicating with both ends and is provided with
a screw valve or tap with a disc graduated to minutes, or other portions of time
during which the valve may have to be kept open.
This passage admits of the liquid being transferred quickly to one end of the
cylinder when the piston is drawn to the other, but is instantly closed by
means of a valve so that the liquid must return more or less slowly as may be
desired by the smaller passage regulated by the graduated valve or tap already
referred to.
In some cases I attach the regulating piston rod direct to the valve spindle,
thereby saving space as the herein before mentioned hollow wheel and chain may
be dispensed with.
When the apparatus is fixed in position as on the front of a boiler fitted with
steam jets or nozzles for consuming the smoke and it is desired to cut off the supply
automatically at the end of a given time. I set the regulator in action by means of
a rod and levers connected with the furnace door.
On opening the door the steam valve and regulator as hereinbefore described are
effected simultaneously so as to allow steam to pass through for a given time,

page_text: after the fuel has been put into the furnace, then by the action of the regulator
and steam valve the supply is cut off and unnecessary waste due to carelessness
entirely prevented.
There are cases in which I prefer to attach to the steam valve already described,
a regulator composed of a simple form of clockwork.
This consists mainly of a balance wheel and a simple escapement the motive
power being a weight drawn up by the action of the furnace door, or the spring on
the valve spindle may be made to act instead of the weight, the whole being
automatic and capable of being regulated with regard to time.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system mode or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon that is
to say.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an apparatus constructed
according to and constituting part of my present Invention.
Figure 2 is a view of the same partly in front elevation and partly in section.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of a detached portion of the apparatus
constituting part of my present Invention.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of another detached portion of the apparatus
constituting part of my present Invention.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively front elevation and transverse section of
apparatus constructed according to and constituting another part of my present
Invention.
Figure 8 is an end elevation of a Lancashire Boiler fitted with apparatus
constructed according to and constituting part of my present Invention.
In the regulating mechanism represented in Figures 1 and 2 the cylinder a filled
or nearly filled with mercury, glycerine, water or other suitable liquid is provided
with the openings b c and d the openings b and c forming respectively the upper
and lower ends of the passage e and the opening d forming the upper end of the
passage The passage f is opened into at its lower end by the valve seating g
which is fitted with the valve h the spindle of which is screwed into the cylinder
casing and which is at its outer end provided with the index i and graduated
index platej (shewn more particularly at Figure 5) The squared end k of the
valve spindle is provided so that a key may be placed thereon to screw or unscrew
the valve h according as the mechanism hereinafter more fully described is
required to operate respectively slower or quicker The piston working within the
cylinder a is formed of the perforated metal disc at the under side of which there
is provided the disc m of india rubber or any other suitable material, these two
discs being held in position by the cup-shaped disc n and the nut o, which latter is
screwed or otherwise suitably secured to the end of the piston rod p The cylinder a
is provided at its upper end with the gland q and stuffing box which may be of
any suitable construction At the upper end of the piston rod the weight 8 is pro-
Below the
vided connected with the chaint which passes over the roller u
weights the stud v is provided and is carried by the piston rod p The valve w to
be regulated by the hereinbefore described mechanism is preferably constructed on
the equilibrium principle as shewn more particularly at Figures 3 and 4 and
consists of the two faces carried upon the spindle x. The motion is imparted
to this valve through the shafts y carrying the cam z which works within
the slot a formed in the valve spindle x The shaft y is preferably formed
with a conical shoulder b' which is ground into and has a seating upon
the stud c by this means the ordinary stuffing box and gland are dis-
pensed with Upon the outer end of the shaft y the spring d' is provided
to retain the same in position the outer end of which bears against the
slotted lever e¹ which is keyed or otherwise suitably secured upon the shaft and
which slotted lever e¹ is preferably formed as shewn for a purpose hereinafter more
particularly described In figure 8 of the accompanying drawings the apparatus
"
Y

page_text: hereinbefore described is represented as fitted at the end of a "Lancashire" boiler for.
controlling the steam required for the jets of the smoke-consuming furnace fitted.
thereto. The weight 8 and with it the piston rod p and its attachments are in this
case raised and the valve w opened by means of the levers and rods respectively
marked f¹ and g' which are operated by opening the furnace door h¹ to which
they are connected The piston being at the upper part of the cylinder a and the.
liquid having passed in the ascent of the piston through the perforations in the
disc by the yielding of the india-rubber below it which also prevents it from.
passing back passes out from the cylinder a through the openings b and c into the
passage e from which it passes by the valve h into the passage f and through the
opening d to the upper side of the piston The flow of the liquid continues in this
manner until the piston is below the opening b when it passes from the under side
of the piston through the opening c and out from the passage e through the
opening b to the upper side of the same the resistance to the passage of the fluid
during the latter part of the descent of the piston being taken off as before
described it is obvious that the rate of the descent of the piston is greatly increased.
The slotted lever e¹ is preferably constructed in the form represented on the
accompanying Drawing so that during the time the piston is falling at the upper
part of its descent the slotted lever el remains stationary and at the lower part of
its descent the stud vengaging with the oblique portion of the slotted lever e¹
causes the same to be depressed and by this means effects the closing of the valve w
It is obvious that the velocity of the descent of the piston and its attachments is
dependent upon the resistance offered to the liquid in its passage from the under-
side to the upper side of the piston and it may be increased or decreased according
as the area of the opening between the valve h and its seating g is increased or
diminished.
The apparatus represented at figures 6 and 7 is an alternative forin of mechanism
by which the opening and closing of the valve w, as hereinbefore described may be
effected. It consists of an arrangement constructed somewhat similar to a clock
escapement and is operated by a weight (not shewn in the drawing secured to the
rack, which gears with the pinion j'. upon the arbor k¹ on which the two escape-
ment wheels . and m¹. are secured. One end of this arbor ¹ is connected to and
actuates the slotted lever e¹ for a purpose similar to that herein before mentioned
with reference to figures 1 and 2. Upon the other end of the arbor k¹ the fly-wheel n'
secured to the pinion o' is loosely carried, the last mentioned pinion o' gearing with
the quadrant rack p' which is formed in the pendulum q' upon the arbor r¹ on
which the two pallets s' are secured. Supposing the weighted rack to be raised
by means similar to those herein before described, the mechanism connected there-
with is operated by the downward pressure tending to turn the pinion j¹ and
with it the escapement wheels and m' and the connections to the slotted lever e¹.
The descent of the rack is checked by the teeth of the escapement wheels l¹
and m' coming alternately into contact with the pallets & and is regulated in its
descent by the action of the quadrant rack p¹ upon the pinion o' and with it the
fly-wheel n to which by the motion of the pendulum q' a reciprocatory motion is
imparted and is continued until the weighted rack i arrives at its normal
position.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system mode or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is:
First, The valve herein before described with reference more particularly to
figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing, consisting of the valve w, spindle x,
shaft y, cam z, slot a¹, shoulder b' stud c' spring d slotted lever e' or their
mechanical equivalents substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Second. The regulating mechanism consisting of the parts hereinbefore referred

page_text: to by the letters a to v. inclusively or their mechanical equivalents substantially
as and for the purposes berein before set forth.
Third, The alternative form of regulator represented at figures 6 and 7 of the
accompanying drawings consisting of the parts hereinbefore referred to by the
letters to s¹ inclusively substantially as and for the purposes herein before set
forth.
Fourth. The combination of either of the regulators claimed in the second and
third claiming clauses with the valve covered by the first claiming clause.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Macintyre have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this third day of February One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
ROB. MACINTYRE (LS.)