An Apparatus Worked by Hydraulic, Hydrostatio, or Pneumatio Power for Operating Levers or Cooks of Any Description, more particularly those Used in Gas Lighting.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1897-Accented, 24th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus Worked by Hydraulic, Hydrostatio, or Pneumatio
Power for Operating Levers or Cooks of Any Description, more
particularly those Used in Gas Lighting.
CHARLES EDWARD GLASCODINE SLIONS Physician and Surgeon, and Analytical
Chemist The Hollies Merthyr Tydfil Glamorgan, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus consists essentially of three portions these being the generator, the
conducting pipes & the motor. The generator used by me at present consists of an
indiarubber ball or bellows, to this is attached the conducting pipe of any suitable
material & this is again attached to the motor which is the portion directly oporating
on the cock or lever. I use for the motor a metal case containing two indiarubber
bags, or having two indiarubber bags attached to it on a suitable frame. Each bag is
in communication with tho conducting pipe. One bag has the bore of the conducting
pipe much narrowed before entering, & the other bag has a branch from the conducting
pipe of undiminished size, or greater than the size of the first montioned bag's
conducting pipe. When the generator is suddenly comprossed, air enters the bag
with the larger sized conducting pipe quicker than it enters the bag which has the
narrower conducting pipe. This can be made to oporate a lever or cock by making
the bag on oxpanding to press upon a suitable plate or lever, which may act directly
upon the lever or cock, or do so by means of a suitable connecting gear.
Whon a continued pressure is made upon the generator it causos the bag with the
narrower conducting pipe to gradually expand, and the bag with the larger conducting
pipe first suddenly expands and then partly contracts again owing to tho gradual
equalization of pressure which takes place through the narrowed pipe loading to the
Becond bag.
On the pressure on the generator being suddenly released the bag with tho
narrower conducting pipe expands owing to the residual pressure exceeding that in
the generator or the other bag; and this combined movement of gradnal expansion
and residual expansion may be made to operate a cock or lever by means of
suitable gear similarly with the first bag, but arranged to act in the reverse
manner; thus a means of opening and closing a cock, or operating a lever can be
obtained.
Any fluid or gas can be used in the generators pipes and motors. Where air is
mentioned in this specification it is intended that water, gases or any fluids may
be used.
By means of expanding bags of suitable material which by means of pipes with
different internal diameters fill at different rates from suitable generators the bye pass
gas burners used in lighting by gas, can be lighted or extinguished from any desired
place.

page_text: COME LEIE SIECIFICATION,
An Apparatus Worked by Hydraulic, Hydrostatic, or Pneumatio:
Power for Operating Levers or Cocks of Any Description, more
particularly those Used in Gas Lighting.
I, CHARLES EDWARD GLASCODINE SIMONS, of The Hollies, Merthyr Tydfil,
Glamorganshire, Physician, Surgeon, and Analytical Chemist, do hereby declaro tho
Dature of this invention and in what mannor the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in apparatus for operating, through the medium of air, or
water, or other fluid under pressure, levers, or the spindles of cocks or taps. The
apparatus is specially adapted for controlling the cooks of burners employed in
incandescent gas-lighting and having bye-passes for pilot lights.
The apparatus, as designed for actuntion pneumatically, according to one arrangement
comprised in this invention, is constructed, arranged, and operated for opening and
closing gas burner cocks, as follows:-
Contained within a casing of sheet metal, or other suitable substance, is a pair of
clastic air-tight bags of india-rubber, sheet metal, or other suitable material, which
communicate, each by a separate pipe, with a main air supply pipe communicating
with an air-compressing appliance.
Loosely placed between the said bags is a plate having a stem attached thereto
which stem is, at the upper end, connected by a rod, either directly or through a
system of levers, to the spindle or plug of a gas burner cock which may be distant
from the place of control.
The branch pipe by which the bag at the reur of the casing aforesaid communicates
with the main air supply pipe is, at a given point in its length, of smaller diameter
internally than the pipe which connects the main air pipe to tho bag at the front of
the casing. Therefore, the latter bag is inflated and deflated with greater rapidity
than the rear bag.
In the normal condition, that is to say, when the. bags are not distended by air
pressure, the plate between them inclines towards the front of the casing, and the
connection with the gas burner cock is so arranged that when the plate is thus
inclined, the cock is fully turned off.
On admission of compressed air to the bags, the front bag becomes inflated more
rapidly than the back bag. Consequently, the plate is tilted backwards and causes
the gas burner cock to open to an extent depending on the degree of pressure
exerted and the consequent movement of the plate.
In this position the plate and cock remain if the pressure be immediately
discontinned.
When it is desired to close the cock, a further and sufficient supply of compressed
air is admitted, and both of the bags become further charged, and when the pressure
in each beconies balanced, the plate between them is brought to rest midway in its
range of movement, which causes the cock to nearly close. The pressure is then
discontinued and the front bag exhausts moro rapidly than the back bag which now
expands as the opposing pressure exerted by the front bag is relaxed. Consequently,
the plato between the bags and the gas burner cock it controls aro returned to their
normal positions by the pressure exerted upon the plate by the expansion of the rear
bag, and the cock is closed.
The apparatus as above described is equally adapted for actuation hydraulically or
hydrostatically.
For purposes where greater power is required in the apparatus operated by the air
or other agent employed, a cylinder and piston and piston rod are used. The piston
rod is connected, either directly or indirectly, to the lever or cock to be controlled,

page_text: and the necessary movements are obtained by admitting, at unequal rates, the motive
agent to opposite sides of the piston and similarly exhausting therefrom.
Ou Sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated one method of carrying this:
invention into effect.
It will be convenient, with a view to simplification of explanation, to describe the
apparatus as applied to controlling, through the medium of air pressure, a gas
burner cock; it being understood that the action of the action of the apparatus as
illustrated is the same in respect of its application in operating a lever.
At Fig. 1 is shown, in side viow, at Fig. 2 in front view, at Fig. 3 in vertical
section, and at Fig. 4 in plan, a casing a, of sheet brass or other suitable metal or
material. By the ears a' and the pins & the casing is fixed to a wall or other support
in convenient proximity to the gas burner cock which it is intended to operate. It
may be fixed to the standard or bracket carrying the barner.
In the casing a are elastic air-tight bags c and d of india-rubber, sheet metal, or
other suitable material, one of which is shown in face view at Fig. 5. By the flexible.
connecting tube o' the bag is connected to the pipe e, as seen inore particularly at
Fig. 2, where, for the sake of cloarer illustration, the pipes are shown in section.
Similarly, by the flexible connecting tube d, the bag d is connected to the pipe f..
The pipes e and f unite to form a common supply pipe g which communicates with an
air-compressing appliance from which the supply of air is obtained. At f in the-
pipe fleading to the rear bag d the boro is contracted, as seen at Fig. 2. Loosely
placed and free to tilt backwards and forwards between the air-bags c and d is a
plate h, shown apart in frout face view at Fig. 6 and in side view at Fig. 7. To this
plate h, which is of sheet brass or othor suitable metal or material, is fixed an arm i to
which is secured a rod j connected, either directly or through a lover or a system of
levers, to the spindle or plug of the gas burner cock which the apparatus is to operato.
This cock may be considorably distant from tho place where the air-compressing
apparatus is operate. For instance, the cock may be at one end of a public hall or
other large apartment, and the place of operation may be at the opposite end of the
building.
In the normal condition of the apparatus, namely that in which it is represented it.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings, the arm i of the plate h is tilted towards the front;.
the bags c and d not being charged with compressed air; and assuming the connection
of the rod ; to the gas burner cock to have been arranged accordingly, the said cock is
wholly turned off and the supply of gas to the burner is cut off.
When it is required to open the gas burner cock, compressed air is admitted from
the compressing appliance to the pipe g and thence by the pipes e and fand tubes c¹
and d to the bags c and d. The front bag c becomes inflated more rapidly than the
rear bag . Consequently the plate h is tilted backwards to the end of its back stroke
and the gas burner cock to which the plate is connected is fully opened. In this
position the plate h will remain if the supply of air be immediately discontinued; tho
air previously admitted returning to the compressing applianco. Consequently, the
gas burner cock will remain fully open.
When it is desired to fully close the gas, buruer cock, so as to cut off the gas entirely
from the burner, a further and sufficient supply of compressed air is admitted to the
bags c and d which in due course become equally inflated, and, the pressure in cach
being thus balanced, the plate A, between thein, is brought to rest midway in its range
of movement, that is to say, in the position indicated at Fig. 4. The cock is now
nearly closed. The pressure is then discontinued and tho bags oxhaust. The front
bag e exhausts more rapidly than the rear bag d which now expands as the opposing
pressure exerted by the bag c is relaxed. Consequently, the plate his tilted by tho
expanding bag d towards the front of the casing a and the gas burner cock is thereby
completely closed.
The apparatus as above described is equally adapted for actuation hydraulically or
hydrostatically.
Apparatus constructed, and arranged, in accordance with this invention is well
adapted for operating the cocks of those gas burners employed in "incandescent

page_text: gas-lighting" which have ૧ "bye-pass" "and a pilot light, for, by its use the issue of gas
at the burner and cessation thereof, that is to say, producing and extinguishing the
burner flame, are controllable at a distance from the cock. For instance, the cocks of
burners in churches and other places of public assembly can be operated from outside
a body of persons assembled in such places.
Instead of one plate such as h only, for actuation by the two bags c and d, two
plates may be employed, one for each bag, and they may be arranged apart from one
another.
At Fig. 8 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated in section the
modification according to which my apparatus is adapted for purposes where greater
power is required.
In the cylinder k, which is shown in longitudinal section, is a piston the piston
rod m of which is connected either directly or indirectly to the lever or cook to be
operated. It will be convenient, with a view to simplification of explanation, to
describe the apparatus as applied to controlling a cock. The action is the same
whether the apparatus is operated pneumatically, hydraulically, or hydrostatically.
From one end of the cylinder & extends the pipe n. From the other end extends
the pipe o in which is a constriction o internally. The pipes n and o unite in a
common pipe p. Between the piston and the front end of the cylinder is an air
expansion chainber 9.
In the normal condition of the apparatus, that is as shown at Fig. 8, the piston lis
at that end of the stroke at which the cock which the piston rod operates is closed.
When it is desired to open the said cock the motive agent is admitted through the
pipes p, n, and o, to both sides of the piston . The motive agent is charged more
rapidly into the cylinder by the pipe n than by the constricted pipe o. Consequently,
the piston is impelled towards the chamber 9 near which it remains if the pressure
be discontinued before an appreciable quantity of motive agent has entered by the
pipe o. This opens the cock. To close the cock, the pressure is re-applied and
allowed to not until the pressure in the chamber q is equal to that on the other side of
the piston. On discontinuing the pressure, the air compressed in the chamber 7 drives
the piston to its normal position and the cook is thus closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for operating, through the medium of compressed air, or hydraulically
or hydrostatically, levers, or the plugs of gas burner cocks or other cocks; the said
apparatus consisting of a pair of elastic bags such as c and d, or the like, placed in a
suitable holder such as the casing a and communicating by pipes of different internal
diameter with the pipe leading to the source of supply of the motive agent; the said
bags acting on a plate such as h connected eithor directly or indirectly to the lever or
cock for operation and adapted to tilt backwards and forwards as the bags are
distended and exhausted, substantially as heroinabove described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
2. The modified apparatus hereinabove described with special reference to Fig. 8 of
the accompanying drawings; consisting of a cylinder such as k, closed at each end
and having at one end an expansion chamber g; the said cylinder containing a piston
having a piston rod connected, directly or indirectly, to the lever or gas burner
cock, or other cock, for oporation; pipes of different internal diameter being fitted
to convey the motive agent to and from the two sides of the piston at unequal rates of
speed.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.