Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1886
Complete Left, 24th Aug., 1887
Complete Accepted, 28th Oct., 1887
We HENRY WILLIAM COLE and ALBERT FREDERICK COLE both of Raven Street,
Stourport in the County of Worcester, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to prevent the passage of gas or other fluid in case
of leakage or escape, and one apparatus may be applied to the main or a separate
apparatus may be used for each tap, chandelier or other place where a leakage or escape
may be anticipated.
The instrument consists of a chamber with inlet and outlet openings for the gas and
within this chamber is pivoted a lever which carries at one end a valve or equivalent which
controls the outlet and at the other end bas a balancing device subject to the pressure
of the gas on both sides. The valve may preferably be in form of a cup dipping into
a mercury seal and the balancing device is preferably a flexible diaphragm loaded as
required and connected with the lever aforesaid. A piston working in an open ended
cylinder or a second mercury cup would give the same result but a leather diaphragm
is found to give satisfaction. Upon the lever is a projection preferably having two
inclined faces meeting in an apex at one side and adapted to be moved or controlled
by two arms extending from an axis crossing the direction of the lever; the projection
forms with the pivoted lever a bell-crank lever and the axis carrying the arms revolves
so that the arms traverse the angle between the projection and the lever.
The action of this part of the apparatus is as follows:-The chainber above the
valve and diaphragm is put under pressure as soon as the tap on the main is opened
but the gas cannot pass because one of the arms is pressing upon the lever and holding
the cup down in the mercury seal. By means which will be presently explained the
action of opening the tap in the main has set the spindle which carries the arms
revolving preferably with an intermittent motion so that as the arm which held down
the lever is withdrawn the second arm engages the first of the inclined faces of the
bell-crank projection and as it turns forces this back thereby turning the lever and

page_text: •
lifting the cup out of the mercury seal so that the gas passes into the outlet. When
the arm has reached the apex of the incline and the cup is out of the mercury it stops
in its course to give time for any leak to manifest itself or for the pressure to equalise
on both sides of the apparatus. If this equalisation takes place there can be no leak
but the second arm which moves on again engages with the lever and forces the cup
again into the mercury where it holds it for a longer or shorter time to which it is set
according to the length of piping which has to be cleared and then continuing leaves
the lever entirely free. If at this period there be no escape the diaphragm end being
slightly the heavier although the shorter overpowers the cup end and tips up the
lever allowing a clear way for the passage of the gas when it is wanted. If howevor
there be a leakage the cup being on the longer end of the lever is held in the mercury
by the pressure of the gas and closes the passage and so remains until the leak is
stopped or if a tap has been left open by mistake it has been closed the tap is now
again turned off at the main, and the apparatus set going a second time and the
equilibrium being restored the valve romains open and the passage way is clear. This
apparatus is therefore of great utility where the gas is turned off every night as
if any tap has not been turned off it must be shut before any gas can be obtained
for use.
Various means may be employed for giving motion to the spindle which carries the
arms above mentioned, but the following is found to work well.
A weighted lever pivoted at one end is controlled in its descent by some regulating
device such as is commonly used for the levers of water closets an air or oil cylinder
with a regulating tap or hole and piston being preferred. This lover is so connected
with the tap on the gas main that when the tap is closed the lever is raised and is held
up by a detent which is only released when the tap has been turned full on. Sup-
posing this to have been done the lover descends slowly and carrying with it a section
or quadrant which has pins or teeth which engage in turn with arms or teeth upon
the outer end of the spindle already mentioned. These are preferably arranged at
intervals so as to give the intermittent motion which as already explained is preferred;
but a toothed segment and toothed wheel could be used or other equivalent means.
The cylinder which controls the descent of the lever I prefer to pivot at its closed
end so that it may oscillate as required and to keep it always in the proper line I
connect with it a slotted arm through the slot of which passes a pin fixed in the
weighted lever. The result is that this arm and the piston rod are always practically
parallel and the cylinder is always in its proper position. This apparatus may be
employed for other fluids besides gas-compressed air for instance-but I have
described it as applied to gas.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Gas and other Fluid Pressure
Controlling Apparatus.
We HENRY WILLIAM COLE and ALBERT FREDERICK COLE both of Raven Street,
Stourport, in the County of Worcester, Manufacturers 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:-,
The object of this invention is to prevent the passago of gas or other fluid in case
of leakage or escape and one apparatus may be applied to the main or a separate
apparatus may be used for each tap chandelier or other place where a leakage or
escape may be anticipated.
gas
and
The instrument consists of a chamber with inlet and outlet openings for the
within this chamber is pivoted a lever which carries at one end a valve or equivalent
which controls the outlet and at the other end has a balancing device subject to the
pressure of the gas on both sides. The valve may preferably be in form of a cup
dipping into a mercury seal and the balancing device is preferably a flexible diaphragm
loaded as required and connected with the lever aforesaid. A piston working in an
open ended cylinder or a second mercury cup would give the same result but a leather
diaphragm is found to give satisfaction. Upon the lever is a projection having inclined
faces adapted to be moved or controlled by two arms extending from an axis crossing
the direction of the lever; the projection forms with the pivoted lever a bell crank
lever and the axis carrying the arms revolves so that the arms traverse the angle
between the projection and the lever.
The action of this part of the apparatus is as follows:- -The chamber above the valve
and diaphragm is put under pressure as soon as the tap on the main is opened but
the gas cannot pass because one of the arms is pressing upon the lever and holding the
cup down in the mercury seal. By means which will be presently explained the
action of opening the tap in the main has set the spindle which carries the arms
revolving preferably with an intermittent motion so that as the arm which held down
the lever is withdrawn the second arin engages the first of the inclined faces of the
bell crank projection and as it turns forces this back thereby turning the lever and
lifting the cup out of the mercury seal so that the gas passes into the outlet. When
the arm has roached the apex of the incline and the cup is out of the mercury it stops
in its course to give time for any leak to manifest itself or for the pressure to equalise
on both sides of the apparatus. If this equalisation takes place there can be no leak
but the second arm which moves on again engages with the lever and forces the cup
again into the mercury where it holds it for a longer or shorter time to which it is set
according to the length of piping which has to be tested and then continuing leaves
the lever entirely free. If at this period there be no escape the diaphragm end being
slightly the heavier although the shorther overpowers the cup end and tips up the
lever allowing a clear way for the passage of the gas when it is wanted. If however
there be a leakage the cup being on the longer end of the lever is held in the mercury
by the pressure of the gas and closes the passage and so remains until the leak is
stopped or if a tap has been left open by mistake until it has been closed, the tap is
now again turned off at the main and the apparatus set going a second time and the
equilibrium being restored the valve remains open and the passage way is clear. This

page_text: apparatus is therefore of great utility where the gas is turned off every night as if any
tap has not been turned off it must be shut before any gas can be obtained for use.
Various means may be employed for giving motion to the spindle which carries
the arms above mentioned, but the following is found to work well.
A weighted lever pivoted at one end is controlled in its descent by some regulating
device such as is commonly used for the levers of water closets, an air or oil cylinder with a
regulating tap or hole and piston being preferred. This lever is so connected with
the tap on the gas main that when the tap is closed the lever is raised and is held up
by a detent which is only released when the tap has been turned full on. Supposing
this to have been done the lever descends slowly and carrying with it a section or
quadrant which has pins or teeth which engage in turn with arms or teeth upon the
outer end of the spindle already mentioned. These are preferably arranged at intervals
so as to give the intermittent motion which as already explained is preferred; but a
toothed segment and toothed wheel could be used or other equivalent means.
The cylinder which controls the descent of the lever we prefer to pivot at its closed
end so that it may oscillate as required and to keep it always in the proper line we
connect with it a slotted arm through the slot of which passes a pin fixed in the
weighted lever. The result is that this arm and the piston rod are always practically
parallel and the cylinder is always in its proper position. This apparatus may be
employed for other fluids besides gas-compressed air for instance-but we have
described it as applied to gas. Although we have described our apparatus as being
coupled with the tap in the main the latter may be dispensed with in some cases and
the apparatus itself substituted therefor.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevation partly in section
as indicated by the line X Z in Figure 2. Figure 2 is a side elevation and Figures 3
and 4 are details of the chamber containing the controlling apparatus. This chamber
is formed in two parts A and A' luted and screwed or otherwise fastened together so
as to be perfectly gas tight. In one part of the chamber is formed an annular groove a
to contain mercury and concentric with this groove is an opening B for the outlet of
the gas. This opening may be closed by means of an inverted cup a¹ the rim of
which dips into the mercury contained in the groove u. The cup a is attached to
the longer arm of a lever C which is pivoted at e the shorter arm of the said lever
being attached to a collapseable diaphragm of leather or other flexible material D.
By means of passages D₁ communication is established between the outlet B and the
under side of the diaphragm. For convenience of manufacture the bottom A² of the
chamber is separately constructed and attached by screws to the upper parts. By
means of a counterbalance weight C adjustable on the rod c which may be either
fixed to or form part of the lever the equilibrium of the said lever when the latter
is uninfluenced by other agency is disturbed, the diaphragm end being slightly heavier
than the other and therefore tending to make the parts assume the position shown in
Figure 3. Attached to or forming part of the lever C is a cam faced projection C³,
and projecting transversely across the lever C is a spindle E which passes through a
gland or stuffing box E' formed on the part A of the chamber. From a boss on the
spindle E and at right angles to each other project two arms e, e¹ arranged to act on
the lever and projection C³ to effect the opening and closing of the valve a¹.
The remainder of the apparatus shown in the drawings hereto annexed is concerned
in operating the spindle E but as the regulator would act equally well if the spindle
were turned by hand we will now describe the working thereof. The condition of
the parts previous to commencing operations is that shown in Figure 1 in which the
valve a' is immersed in the mercury in the groove a² and the diaphragm D distended
this position being maintained by means of the arm e on the spindle E which bears on
the lever C. If gas be now turned on at the main it will enter through the inlet
pipe B¹ into the chamber A from which there is at present no outlet. The spindle E
must now be turned slowly round in the direction of the arrow and the first motion
thereof will cause the arms e to leave the lever, (and almost simultaneously the arm e¹
will commence to act on the inclined face of the projection C³ and forcing the same
back will continue to raise the valve a' from the mercury seal a until a free passage

page_text: for gas through the outlet B is provided. When the arme has reached the apex or
summit of the incline on the projection C as shown in Figure 3 the rotation of the
spindle is suspended for a while until all the branch pipes on the outlet side have had
time to become full of gas under the same pressure as that on the inlet side or main
or until the pressures on each side of the regulator are in equilibrium.
The rotation of the spindle is then continued until the arm e¹ comes into contact
with the lever C and commences to close the valve a' which it does completely when
the pin has arrived at the vertical position underneath the spindle acting precisely as
the arm e did previous to the commencement of the operation.
The rotation of the spindle E is at this stage again suspended and the valve allowed
to remain closed for a short time so that should any leak exist on the outlet side of the
regulator either through a flaw in the pipes or a tap being turned on the gas on the
outlet side may have time to escape and the pressure in the pipes become appreciably
diminished. The spindle E is then turned until the arms e and e' are clear of the
lever Cand have left the same free to open. As previously stated the weight of the
parts on each side of the fulcrum is so adjusted that the diaphragm end of the lever C
is heaviest and will when free to do so overcome the weight on the valve side and raise
the valve a' from the mercury cup or trough a. It follows from this that if when the
spindle E has been turned round so as to remove the arms e and e¹ out of possible
contact with the lever C no opening for escape should exist the pressure of gas on
each side of the valve a¹ and diaphragm D will be equal and will not effect the balance of
the lever C and therefore the preponderence of weight on the diaphragm side of the
lover will assert itself the diaphragm will sink and the valve a' will be raised so as to
afford a passage for the gas when necessary. Supposing however that a leak should
exist the gas during the time that the valve a' has been closed will have escaped to
such an extent that the pressure in the branch pipes will be considerably less than in
the upper portion of the regulator. Under such circumstances the valve a will
remain closed as the pressure on the upper side thereof multiplied by the difference
in length of the two arms of the lever will more than counterbalance the excess in
weight of the diaphragm end of the lever. The fact of the valve remaining closed
may therefore be regarded as evidence of a leak existing and until such has been
stopped and the equilibrium between the main and the branch pipes restored by
repeating the operation of opening the valve by means of the arms on the spindle E
the valve will continue to close when released.
In the foregoing description the diaphragm has been described as attached to the end of
the lever and assisting to counterbalance the weight of the valve a'. Instead of this
the diaphragm may be attached to the end of a separate lever o see Figure 4 mounted
loosely on the same pivot c, the shorter end of the lever being provided with a cam
or inclined tail piece o' capable of being acted upon by the arms e and e¹ or others
similarly placed. In this case the valve is counterbalanced entirely by the weight C¹.
As the spindle E revolves the arms e and e¹ acting on the inclined tail piece o' will
raise the diaphragm at the same time as they close the valve. The space underneath
the diaphragm thus becomes filled with gas and when the armis e and e' are removed
from the spindle C and the cam o' the diaphragm immediately falls and compresses the
gas in the passages D¹ and B. This displacement of gas from beneath the diaphragm
compensates for the slight vacuum which would be produced by the rising of the
valve a' and helps to start the same in its opening motion.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show modifications of our invention. In the former (Figure 5)
the chambers are constructed one inside the other the gas from the main entering the
inner chamber A where the pressure is exerted upon the bellows N (tending to destend
the same) and on the valve N¹. The latter is open when the gas is turned on at the
main and remains open until the pipes have had time to fill when it is closed by the
arm e. After a suitable length of time the arme leaves the lever C and in case of no
leakage the preponderence in weight of the bellows N will suffice to open the valve N';
but should a leakage exist the difference between the pressure of the gas in the inlet
and ontlet chambers will overcome the difference in weight between the bellows and
valve and keep the latter closed.

page_text: In Figure 6 a single chamber only is used and the diaphragm is dispensed with a
minute preforation a³ in the valve serving to compensate for the slight decrease in
pressure which always occurs in the branch pipes whether there be any perceptible
leak or not and to compensate for the slight vacuum which would be caused by the
valve rising.
In Figures 7 and 8 two sets of bellows P and P' are employed and to the lever Ca
connecting rod R is jointed the lower end of the said connecting rod being attached
to the lover R¹ which is fixed on the key of the stop cock R². It will be seen by the
drawing that the lever p sustaining the bellows P will fall a short time after the lever C
thus giving the necessary pressure to allow the bellows P¹ to rise.
Figures 9 and 10 resemble Figures 7 and 8 only instead of the stop cock R³ we
employ a slide valve S which is operated by the lever R and rod R³.
In Figures 11 and 12 only one bellows P is employed.
For the second one we substitute a slide valve T operated by weighted lever T
rod T2 and revolving arms e and directly after the arms are out of possible. contact
with the cams for working the bellows P¹ and the valve S opens for sufficient time to
provide for the slight decrease in pressure which occurs when the bellows is rising
after which the valve again closes.
In Figures 13 and 14 mercury seals U U₁ are employed instead of valves the screw u
which closes the opening through the centre of the seal U₁ being for the purpose of
regulating the passage of the gas which is necessary to provide for the slight decrease
in pressure while the seal U is rising.
In Figure 15 a simple chamber only is used containing a swinging valve V which
is pivoted at vand is held against its seat when the arme is removed by the pressure
of gas in the chamber should there be an escape on the outlet side.
In Figures 16, 17 and 18 the cylinder K 2 which regulates the descent of the
lever J is formed along with the regulating chamber and the pressure on the under-
side of the piston K' or equivalent is utilized to provide for the rising of the valve or
cup a¹.
The screw w Fig. 16 regulates the descent of the piston and the studs G on the piston
rod K operate the arms e e¹ which control the cup or valve a¹.
As will readily be seen from the foregoing description the motion of the spindle E
is intermittent the pauses varying according to the length of time requisite for filling
the branch pipes and for allowing a leak to manifest itself by an appreciable diminu-
tion of pressure, or instead of the intermittent spindle a revolving spindle and toothed
wheel and seginent can be used, the requisite pauses are then maintained by the cams
on the valve lever. In order to render this motion automatic the following mechanism
may be employed. Upon a boss F mounted on the spindle E outside the chamber A
are fixed a series of radial pins or pegs F¹. These pins gear with a second series of
pins Gfixed perpendicularly to an arm G' forming a segment of a circle of which
the stud H is the centre. On this stud is mounted a lever J to which the arm G¹ is
fixed. To a stud J' on the lever J is pivoted a rod K carrying at its lower end a
piston K' which fits into an air cylinder K² at the bottom of which is a small "pet"
cock K³.
"
The function of the lever J is to impart rotation to the spindle E through the
mediation of the pins F¹ and G. When the apparatus is "set" the lever is elevated
as shown in Figure 1 being retained in position by means of a catch lever L which
is pivoted to the lever J and rests on one of the branch arms A' which support the
chamber A. An arm M having a projection M' is pivoted on the stud H and con-
nected by means of a rod M² with a crank N on the spindle of the valve N' in the
main or supply pipe. When the gas is turned on the arm M is thrown forward and
the projection M' strikes the upper end of the catch lever L and disengages the same
thereby leaving the lever J free to drop. The rate at which the lever falls is governed
by the air cylinder K2 whilst the periods of action and inaction on the spindle E are
governed by the distance apart of the pins G on the segment G¹.
The mechanism above described for imparting the requisite slow and intermittent
motion to the spindle E is merely an illustration of the manner in which the invention

page_text: may be carried into practical effect it is obvious that this part of the apparatus admits
of considerable modification or automatic mechanism may be entirely dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The method of detecting and arresting the escape of gas or other fluid under
pressure by employing in connection with the main tap or valve which controls the
supply to the branch pipes an intermediate valve or equivalent and mechanism or
apparatus which upon the opening of the main tap or valve opens the intermediate
valve and allows the passage into the branch pipes of sufficient fluid under pressure to
fill the said branch pipes, then closes the intermediate valve to prove the existence of
a leak and the supply remains permanently cut off if a leak or escape exist, but if
there be no escape finally and permanently opens the inlet to the said branch pipes.
2. The method of detecting and arresting the escape of gas or other fluid under
pressure by the employment of a valve or equivalent and mechanism or apparatus
situated where a leak or escape may occur which valve upon being opened gives free
communication to the outlet pipes which are filled with the fluid under pressure, then
closes the inlet to the said pipes to prove the existence of a leak or escape, and the
supply remains permanently cut off if a leak or escape exists, but if there be no escape
finally and permanently opens the inlet to the said pipes.
3. The employment of an automatic mechanism or apparatus which cuts off the
supply of gas or other fluid under pressure in case of leakage.
4. The method of detecting and arresting the escape of gas or other fluid under
pressure by first establishing free connection between the main and branch pipes and
allowing the gas or fluid to flow until the same pressure exists in the branch as in the
main; and secondly by means of a valve or equivalent situated between the main and
branch shutting off the gas or fluid for a period sufficient to allow the pressure in the
branch to fall if an escape exist, which valve may be controlled by hand or mechanism
and is so balanced and adjusted that it will open when the pressure on both sides is
equal but will remain closed when the pressure in the main pipes exceeds that in the
branch.
5. In an apparatus such as described a chamber such as A having inlet and outlet
openings B and B and containing a lever carrying a valve or equivalent such as A¹
at one end and a closed mercury seal, diaphragm or equivalent D at the other the
relative weights of the valve and diaphragm being so adjusted that the valve will
remain open when the fluid pressure on both inlet and outlet sides is equal, but will
remain closed when by leakage or escape the pressure in the chamber acting on the
back of the valve is sufficient to overcome the excess in weight of the diaphragm end
of the lever.
6. The employment of a flexible diaphragm, mercury seal, piston, valve, or equiva-
lent for the purpose of providing compensation for the slight decrease in pressure
which is liable to occur while the valve is rising.
7. In an apparatus such as described the combination with a valve lever or equivalent
such as C having a projection of arms e and e¹ (or toothed wheel and segment,)
mounted on a spindle passing through the wall of the chamber A and capable of
being turned so as to impart the requisite motions to the said valve lever C sub-
stantially as specified.
8. In an apparatus such as described the combination with the regulating spindle E
of automatic mechanism for causing the said spindle E to revolve.
11
41 1
"
21007
HENRY WILLIAM COLE.
ALBERT FREDERICK COLE.