Automatic Regulator for Gas Exhausters.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Regulator for Gas Exhausters.
I, SAMUEL CUTLER, Engineer, of Providence Iron Works, Millwall, in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the processes of gas manufacture where the production is intermittent or
"relief gas-
variable it is usual to provide a compensating gasholder known as a
holder" between the producers and the subsequent plant, the rate of inflow to
the holder being variable and the outflow therefrom to the subsequent vessels
constant. The gas is drawn from the relief gasholder by exhausters and should
these draw out the gas more rapidly than it is produced in the manufacturing
plant it is possible to not only empty the gasholder but to produce a partial
vacuum within the same which may result in great damage to the gasholder.
To obviate this danger I have devised a means of automatically reducing the
speed of exhausters when the volume of gas within the gasholder has reached a
predetermined minimum, and of simultaneously and automatically operating a
byepass valve between the inlet and the outlet of the exhauster in order to provide
sufficient gas at the inlet to keep the exhauster running at the reduced speed
without diminishing the predetermined minimum volume of gas within the gas-
holder.
In carrying out my invention I connect the gasholder by means of wires, chains,
ropes, rods, links or equivalent means to a weight guided so as to rise or fall
vertically, and placed adjacent to the exhausters, and I cause this weight when
it reaches a predetermined minimum height to operate a series of links, gears or
other suitable mechanical parts which in turn control the steam supply to the
exhauster engine and gas byepass respectively, in the manner herein before de-
scribed.
I may also in some cases cause the weight when at a predetermined maximum
height to operate, either by mechanical means or electrical contact, a signal or
alarm by which the operator is apprised that the gasholder is fully charged with
gas.
1907
Automatic Regulator for Gas Exnausters,
I, SAMUEL CUTLER, Engineer, of Providence Iron Works, Millwall, in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
In processes of gas manufacture where the production is intermittent or
variable it is usual to provide a compensating gasholder known as a
<< relief gas-
holder" between the producers and the subsequent plant, the rate of inflow to
this gas holder being variable and the outflow therefrom to the subsequent vessels
constant. The gas is drawn from the relief gasholder by exhausters and should
these withdraw the gas more rapidly than it is produced in the manufacturing
plant it is possible to not only empty the gasholder, but to produce a partial
vacuum within the same and great damage to the gasholder and other parts may
ensue.
To obviate this danger I have devised a means of automatically reducing the
speed of the exhausters when the volume of gas within the gasholder has reached a
predetermined minimum and of simultaneously and automatically operating a
bye-pass valve between the inlet and the outlet of the exhausters to provide
sufficient gas at the inlet to keep the exhausters running at a reduced speed
without diminishing the predetermined minimum volume of gas within the gas-
holder.'
The accompanying diagram shows one way of carrying out my invention.
I connect the gasholder a by means of wires, chains, ropes, rods, links or equiva-
lent parts to a weight c guided to rise and fall vertically and placed adjacent
to the exhausters, and this weight when it reaches a predetermined position
operates a series of links, gears or other suitable mechanical parts def, which in
turn actuate the throttle valve 9 placed in the steam supply pipe of the engine
and a throttle valve h placed in a pipe connecting the inlet and outlet of the
exhauster so that instead of further exhausting the gas holder the gas simply passes
through the exhauster and back from the outlet to the inlet through the byepass
pipe 7, the speed of the exhauster engine being reduced at the same time by
throttling the steam supply. When the volume of gas within the gasholder again
increases, the weight c is raised and the counterpoise weight reverses the lever
and throttle valves to their previous positions.
I may also in some cases cause the weight to operate signals or alarms at
arranged positions to apprise the attendant of the position of the gasholder such
siguals being operated from the moving weight either mechanically or by electrical
contact.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Automatically regulating gas exhausters by causing the gasholder which they
are exhausting, when it has reached a predetermined minimum height, to reduce
the speed of the gas exhausters and to operate a bye-pass valve to return gas from
the outlet to the inlet of the exhausters to permit them to run at a reduced
speed without decreasing the arranged minimum height of the gas holder.
2. The automatic regulator for gas exhausters, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of August 1898
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.