the Pressure or Action of Fluids.
Year: 1886

page_text: the Pressure or Action of Fluids.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a pressure regulator or apparatus by which the operation
of a valve, damper, or other device is governed in accordance with the pressure of
a fluid.
The improved apparatus may be used as a pump-regulator for controlling the
valve or other device governing the application of power to the pumping engine,
in accordance with the pressure of the fluid forced by the pump, so that the power
will be cut off from the engine when the pressure of the pumped fluid rises to a
predetermined amount, and will be again applied to the engine when the pressure
falls below this amount.
The apparatus may also be used as a pressure reducing valve controlled by the
pressure of the fluid that has passed through and beyond the valve, which is closed
when the said pressure rises to a predetermined limit, thus preventing the pressure
on the delivery side of the valve from ever rising above a definite predetermined
amount.
The apparatus may also be used as a damper or draught regulator, for a furnace
of a steam generator for example, being controlled by the pressure of the steam
generated, so that the damper is closed and the fire checked as soon as the said
pressure rises to a predetermined limit.

page_text: The apparatus comprises an actuating piston which moves the valve, damper, or
other device, a pressure chamber and a piston or its equivalent therein acted upon
in one direction by a predetermined governing force and in the other direction by
the pressure of the fluid that is to control or regulate the operation of the apparatus;
and a secondary valve controlled by the movement of the piston, diaphragm, or
other device in the pressure chamber and itself governing the admission of an
actuating fluid to the cylinder containing the main actuating piston. The actuating
piston may itself be actuated by the fluid having variable pressure in accordance
with which the apparatus is operated, or if desirable it may be actuated by a
different fluid.
In the accompanying drawing the main actuating piston is shown as differential
or having its ends of different area, the smaller of which is continuously exposed
to the pressure of the actuating fluid, while the said fluid is admitted to or
removed from the larger area in accordance with the changes in pressure of the
controlling fluid.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a fluid pressure regulator embodying this
invention, in a form suitable for a pump regulator, in which the main piston
controls the admission of motive fluid to the engine and is itself actuated by the
said motive fluid but controlled in its operation by the pressure of the fluid forced
by the pump.
Figure 2 is a similar section of an apparatus adapted to operate as a pressure
reducing valve, the main valve actuating piston being actuated by the pressure of
the fluid at the inlet side of the valve aud being controlled by the pressure of the
fluid which has passed through the valve or is on the delivery side thereof.
Figure 3 is a similar section of the pressure regulating apparatus adapted for
controlling a damper or draught slide of the furnace of a steam generator the main
actuating piston being actuated by the pressure of the steam generated, and also
being controlled by the variations in said pressure.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a pressure regulator, adapted for controlling
a steam pump, like the apparatus shown in figure 1, but having the main actuating
piston actuated as well as controlled by the fluid having the variable pressure,
namely the pumped fluid.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the apparatus shown in figure 4, partly in section, on
a plane at right angles to the plane of section of figure 4, and,
Figure 6 is a cross section on line xx figure 4.
The apparatus comprises a main actuating piston a, a¹, shown as differential or
having the portion a¹ of larger area than the portion a, the ratio of areas being
preferably two to one, so that when both areas are acted upon by an equal pressure
per unit of area, the force tending to move the piston in one direction will be the
same as the force tending to move it in the opposite direction derived from a
pressure of the same amount per unit of area acting on the small area alone.
said piston works in a corresponding cylinder b b¹ and is connected with, or itself
forms, the valve or other device to be moved according as the variable pressure of
the controlling fluid rises to or falls below a certain point.
The
As shown in figures 1 and 2 the smaller portion of the piston a itself constitutes
the valve, co-operating with a valve seat c in a valve shell c' having inlet and
outlet openings c², ca, separated by a partition c¹ having an opening through the
valve seat c.
As shown in figure 3 the piston is connected by a rod c³ with an arm ce connected
with a damper c' in a flue c; and as shown in figure 4 the rod c is connected with
a valve c working in a bushing ca in the valve shell c¹ the said bushing constituting
a partition between the inlet opening c² and outlet opening of the said shell
and having ports c10 controlled by the valve c³, which, when in the position shown
in figure 4, leaves the upper part of the said ports uncovered, so that the steam or
other fluid may flow from the inlet part c³ of the shell through the said ports clo
and then through the interior of the valve c8 to the outlet opening c³. When the

page_text: said valve c is moved upward from the position shown in figure 4 it closes the
ports co and stops the flow of fluid from the inlet c² to the outlet c³ of the valve
shell.
The smaller portion of the piston a is continuously exposed to the pressure of a
fluid which in figures 1 and 2 is the fluid entering the valve-shell at c²; and as
shown in figure 3 is fluid admitted to the smaller part 6 of the cylinder through
an inlet d which may be connected with the boiler of a steam generator, the fire in
which is controlled by the damper c'.
As shown in figure 4 fluid is admitted to the smaller part 6 of the cylinder to
act on the smaller part a of the piston through an inlet d', which may be connected
with the delivery pipe of the pump that is actuated by the steam, the flow of
which through the valve shell ct is controlled by the valve ; or the said inlet d'
may receive any other fluid having variable pressure in accordance with which the
apparatus is to be operated.
The portion b¹ of the cylinder, of larger area, is connected by an inlet port e with
the source of the same fluid that acts upon the smaller area of the piston, the said
port e being shown in Figures 1 and 2 as cominunicating with the inlet portion c²
of the main valve shell, and in Figure 3 as communicating with the inlet f to the
passage d which supplies the portion b of the cylinder of smaller sectional area;
and in Figures 5 and 6 the port e connects the chambers b and b¹ at opposite ends
of the piston a, a¹. The flow of fluid through the said port e into the larger
portion 6 of the cylinder is controlled by a secondary valve g connected with or
forming part of a piston or equivalent device g¹ working in a pressure chamber g³
and acted upon in one direction, namely, that to close the secondary valve g, by a
predetermined governing force derived from a spring h or weight h¹ and acted
upon in the other direction, namely to open the valve g, by the pressure of a fluid
admitted to the pressure chamber g³ through an inlet passage i, the said fluid being
the one having a variable pressure in accordance with which the operation of the
apparatus is to be controlled. When the pressure of the said fluid is insufficient
to overcome that of the constant governing force the secondary valve g remains
seated or closed as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, and no fluid is admitted to act on
the larger portion a¹ of the piston, so that the fluid acting unbalanced on the
smaller portion a thereof moves the said piston as far as possible in the direction
from the smaller towards the larger part of the piston, thus placing the actuated
device, i.e. the main valve, or damper, in what may be called its open condition.
Thus for instance when the apparatus is used to control a steam pump the inlet i
to the pressure chamber is connected with the delivery pipe of the pump and the
pressure of the pumped fluid acts on the piston g¹ in opposition to the spring h.
As long as this pressure is insufficient to overcome the governing force, i.e. of the
spring or weight, the valve g² remains closed, and the main valve that supplies
steam or other actuating fluid to the engine remains open as shown in Figures 1
and 4; but as soon as the pressure of the pumped fluid is sufficient to overcome
the governing force, the valve g opens and the same fluid that acts on the smaller
area a of the piston is admitted to act on the larger area a¹ thereof, and owing
to the greater extent of the latter, causes the piston to move in the direction from
the larger to the smaller part, thus immediately closing the main valve and cutting
off the actuating fluid from the engine which immediately ceases to work so that
the pressure of the pumped fluid cannot be raised above the amount determined by
the governing force.
The various Figures of the drawing while illustrating some of the different
purposes for which the apparats may be applied also represent several modifications
in the construction.
As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the larger portion 6¹ of the cylinder is provided
with an exhaust passage m, m', having an outlet m² which may be connected with
a pipe leading to any desired point, the said exhaust passage crossing the passage
for the stem of the valve g, which stem when the valve g is opened, closes the said

page_text: exhaust passage as shown in Figure 2, but when the valve g is closed opens the
said exhaust passage as shown in Figures 1 and 3, thus permitting the fluid to
escape from the larger part of the cylinder as the piston is forced through the latter
by the unbalanced pressure on its smaller part. As shown in Figure 1 the piston
is actuated by a different fluid from that admitted to the pressure chamber and
controlling its operation, but in the apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 the piston
is actuated by the same fluid that enters the pressure chamber, the inlet i Figure
to the pressure chamber communicating with the passage e and with the inlet f
which supplies both parts b b¹ of the cylinder in which the actuating piston works.
As shown in Figure 4 the pressure chamber g2 is the same as the smaller part
of the cylinder in which the piston works and the pressure piston g' itself con-
stitutes the secondary valve g covering or uncovering an annular groove e¹ in the
interior of the said cylinder, which groove communicates with the inlet port e of
the larger part b₁ of the cylinder as shown in Figure 5.
с
As shown in Figure 4 the exhaust passage m³ m¹ from the larger part of the
cylinder is constantly open but is very small with relation to the inlet port e, so
that when the latter is open the exhaust does not materially reduce the pressure in
the larger part of the cylinder, but is sufficient when the inlet e is closed to empty
the said cylinder as quickly as may be desired. The exhaust passage m³ is shown
as controlled by a valve m10 having a threaded shank and a squared head so that
it may be turned by a suitable key from the outside of the apparatus to regulate
the size of the exhaust opening and thus govern the speed with which the piston
is moved when acted upon at the small end only.
As shown in Figure 3 the governing force is derived from a weight acting
through a lever h³ on a stem h³ bearing on the piston g', and as shown in the other
Figures the governing force is derived from the spring hand may be adjusted by
an adjusting screw h³ turning in the cap h6 of the pressure chamber and bearing
on a follower h at one end of the spring h.
As shown in Figure 2 the device in the pressure chamber acted upon by the
governing force and by the variable pressure of the fluid is a diaphragm. In the
other Figures this device is shown as a cup-shaped piston baving a long bearing in
its cylinder to insure proper guidance.
The cylinder in which the governing piston works is provided with a groove m
connected by a passage m³ with the exhaust passage m³, so that the fluid which
may leak around the said piston does not pass wholly by the same but has a free
escape, thus permitting the piston to have a comparatively loose fit so as to respond
readily to the slightest changes in the pressure. The portion b¹ of the cylinder
near its junction with the portion b is also provided with a groove m communi-
cating through a passage m' with the exhaust passage m¹ or exhaust outlet m², so
that the fluid which may leak by either part of the cylinder has a free escape and
cannot exert a pressure on the annular surface of the larger part of the pistou
around the smaller part thereof.
In Figure 2 the inlet to the pressure chamber communicates with the outlet
portion of the main valve, and consequently when the pressure in the outlet
portion rises sufficiently to overcome the governing force the main valve is closed,
preventing more fluid from passing through, so that the pressure cannot rise above
this point beyond the valve, however great it may be on the inlet side of the
valve.
The openings and m² see Figure 1 might be made in the main shell c¹ like the
openings and m³ in figure 3, so that the casting containing the pressure chamber
and secondary valve may be removed from the main shell without disturbing any
of the pipe connections with the apparatus, and when thus removed the piston can
be withdrawn and all parts of the apparatus are accessible for inspection and
repair.
This pressure regulating apparatus causes the main valve or other device
controlled by it to remain in one position until the variable pressure rises to the

page_text: predetermined limit, when the said valve or device is promptly moved to the other
position by a positive pressure sufficient to overcome friction or other resistance
which may occur to the movement of the valve, and as soon as the variable
pressure falls below the predetermined limit the main valve or other device is
positively and promptly moved to its other position, while in other pressure
regulating apparatus the main valve or other device has commonly been actuated
by the difference between two nearly balanced forces, and is consequently sluggish
and uncertain in operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. In a regulator operating in accordance with changes of a variable fluid
pressure, a main actuating piston connected with the device to be operated; a
pressure chamber receiving the fluid having variable pressure and containing
a device acted upon in one direction by the said fluid pressure and in the other
direction by a predetermined governing force; and a valve actuated by said device
and controlling the admission of an actuating fluid to act on the main actuating
piston, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a differential cylinder and piston therein having its
smaller area constantly exposed to the pressure of a motive fluid, and the larger
portion of the cylinder having an inlet for the motive fluid; with a valve con-
trolling the said inlet, and a pressure chamber and actuating device for the said
valve therein, acted upon in one direction by a variable fluid pressure, and in the
other direction by a predetermined governing force, substantially as, and for the
purpose, described.
Third. A main valve comprising a valve shell having inlet and outlet openings
and a movable valve controlling the flow of fluid from one to the other; and a
differential cylinder included in the said shell, and a piston therein having its
smaller area constantly exposed to the pressure of the fluid entering the valve
shell, the larger portion of the cylinder being provided with an inlet port;
combined with a controlling valve governing the flow of fluid through the said
inlet port and a pressure chamber and device therein governing the said controlling
valve, substantially as described.
Fourth. A valve shell having inlet and outlet openings and a partition between
them provided with an opening and valve seat; and the differential cylinder above
the valve seat having two portions of different bore or sectional area and a port
leading from the inlet portion of the valve shell to the larger part of the cylinder,
combined with a piston composed of two parts each having a working fit in the
corresponding part of the differential cylinder, the said piston co-operating with
the valve seat to control the flow of fluid through the valve shell; and a controlling
valve governing the flow of fluid through the port leading to the larger portion of
the differential cylinder, substantially as described.
Fifth. A pressure regulator for fluid forcing apparatus comprising a main piston
or actuating device for the controlling device of the forcing apparatus, a pressure
chamber containing fluid under pressure affected by and corresponding with that
of the fluid delivered by the forcing apparatus, and a governing piston or equivalent
acted upon in one direction by a predetermined governing force and in the other
direction by the varying pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber, the said
secondary piston controlling the action of a motive fluid upon the main piston,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. The combination of a main or actuating differential piston having its
smaller area constantly acted upon by fluid pressure, with a governing piston or
equivalent disconnected from the main piston and acted upon in one direction
by a variable pressure, and in the other direction by a substantially constant
governing force of- predetermined amount, and a valve governed by the said

page_text: secondary piston and controlling the application of fluid pressure to the main piston,
which pressure when applied acts on the larger area of the main piston in the
direction opposite to that acting on the smaller area thereof, substantially as, and
for the purpose, described.
Seventh. In a regulator operating in accordance with changes of a variable fluid
pressure, a cylinder and main actuating piston connected with the device to be
operated, and a pressure chamber receiving the fluid having variable pressure in
accordance with which the apparatus is to be regulated; and a governing device
in the said chamber acted upon in one direction by the said fluid pressure and in
the other direction by a predetermined governing force, and a valve actuated by
said governing device and controlling the admission of an actuating fluid to and
its exhaust from the cylinder containing the main actuating piston, substantially
as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.