Improvements in Thermostatic and like Apparatus for Automatically Controlling the Flow of Fluids.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thermostatic and like Apparatus for Automatically
Controlling the Flow of Fluids.
I, JOHN LANGRIDGE, of 53, Vale Road, Ramsgate, in the County of Kent,
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 relates to an apparatus for controlling and distributing equally and
automatically the admission and discharge of heat, whether geuerated in heaters
applied to steam, water or air.
The results which are achieved by this apparatus are in the main due to the use
of an expanding rod as particularized, and so fitted that the power so gained is
multiplied or increased by means of the lever and fulcrum arrangements as shown.
This gain of power is in the proportion of five times as great as the expansion of
the primary rod. In order that this my invention may be better understood I have
hereunto annexed drawings of which
Fig. I is a sectional elevation of the automatic controlling apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. II is a sectional plan of same apparatus.
Fig. III is an end elevation of same apparatus.
Like letters of reference denote the corresponding parts in the several drawings.
A is a rod of brass or other suitable alloy having when heated a high rate of
expansion, one end of which is fixed internally into the casting of the apparatus M,
the other end passing through a stuffing box 0, which forms part of the casting L
and is jointed to the lever C as shown. C is a lever which is connected at its fulcrum
to the two iron or steel non-expanding rods K, K¹, which have their other ends fixed
externally to the casting M.
B is a tube, preferably of brass, which connects the two castings M and L and
decides the length of the apparatus and the total amount of expansion available.
D is a valve of the piston type, which opens and closes a port T formed in the
tube E which is part of the casting L. The valve D is connected to the levers C
and J, by its rod F which passes through a bush (t, and is jointed to nut S and
links N, N in the manner shown.
R is the admission aperture by which the apparatus is connected to the system
which is being subjected to this automatic control.
I is the discharge pipe of the apparatus leading to a condenser, hotwell, feed-heater,
exhaust tank or other desired place.
I is a small drainage pipe providing for any slight leakage past the valve D, and
which may be carried into the main discharge pipe I.
I also provides a balance to the cylinder, less the area of the rod F, which less area
ensures a constant tension or compression according to whether the discharge is into
a vacuum condenser or against pressure.
J is a lever adjustable within the slot in arm 2, which is attached to casting M by
the two bolts %%, and is for the purpose of adjustment according to requirements.
The slot in arm 2 is divided up into points of 10° each and provides for an increase
or decrease of 1000, the total range as shown being 200°.

page_text: The lever J is retained in the desired position by the screw W and thumb nut P,
gripping the washer U to the graded arm, but allowing the lever J free to oscillate
according to the automatic movements of lever C. H is a screw plug to facilitate the
manufacture and adjustment.
Now upon heat being introduced into the apparatus through the admission pipe R,
the rod A will expand according to the temperature, and such expansion is multiplied
in proportion to the length of the lever C.
In the accompanying drawings the proportion is shown as 5 to 1. This expansion
will result in a movement of the valve D five times the single expansion of the rod A.
To this must be added the single expansion of the tube B, therefore the result of
the combined movements A × C+ B will collectively be sufficient movement to fulfil
the intention of the apparatus.
My calculations are based upon the laws of expansion and contraction of metals
when applied to heat, but are of a too lengthy and complicated nature to be explained
herein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
I. An apparatus constructed substantially as described and specified will control
the distribution automatically of heat generated in heaters whether the medium be
steam, water or air.
DAULTON, GRAHAM, & Co.,
93, Leadenhall Street, E.C., Agents for Applicant.