AN EQUILIBRIUM SAFETY VALVE AND PRESSURE REGULATOR
Year: 1884

page_text: We, MARCELIN CASTELNAU and CHARLES MICHELET, both of 31 Boulevard
Henri IV Paris, Department of Seine, in the French Republic, Mechanical
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for AN EQUILIBRIUM
SAFETY VALVE AND PRESSURE REGULATOR, to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to fluid-pressure regulators, applicable either as a safety
apparatus to prevent excessive pressure and therefore the risk of breakage, or as a
governor to maintain a fluid at a constant pressure or degree of vacuum.
The improved apparatus differs from ordinary safety-valves chiefly by the
separation of the fluid which acts on the regulating valve, from that which
leaves or enters the receptacle in which the pressure or vacuum is to be kept
constant. That is to say, the regulating valve or equivalent device is exposed to
the pressure of the fluid contained in one conduit, and when opened by the latter
causes another valve to open a second conduit so as to allow fluid to pass through
the latter, both conduits communicating with the main fluid receptacle.
The first or controlling valve is preferably a reciprocating piston, movable in a
cylinder which communicates on one side with the main receptacle, and provided
with a toothed piston rod gearing into a toothed sector mounted on the axle of a
hollow rotary admission or escape-valve. The latter is adapted to open or close the
second fluid conduit by turning on its axis, the equilibrium of the valve being
maintained by counterweights attached to a pair of levers fixed to the axle of the
rotary valve, which counterweights may, however, be replaced by springs.
The escape or admission valve may also have the shape of a hollow piston, in
which case the piston-rod of the regulating piston passes through the casing or
cylinder of the admission valve and carries also the reciprocating piston contained
in the same, so that both pistons describe the same motion.
On the common piston rod is mounted a disc, serving as abutment for a helical
spring, the opposite end of which rests on the cover of the cylinder containing the
admission valve (piston valve). The rotary valve, as well as the reciprocating
piston valve may have one or inore orifices or ports leading either to one outlet
port or to separate ports.
For instance, two radial inlet ports may unite in the centre of the valve, where
they end in a radial outlet port.
Dated this 4th da
1004

page_text: We, MARCELIN CASTELNAU and CHARLES MICHELET, Engineers, of 31 Boulevard
Henri IV, Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for AN
EQUILIBRIUM SAFETY-VALVE AND PRESSURE REGULATOR, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The improved apparatus differs from ordinary safety-valves and pressure-
regulators chiefly by the separation of the fluid which acts on the valve, from that
which leaves or enters the receptacle in which the pressure or vacuum is to be kept
constant. That is to say, the valve or equivalent device is exposed to the pressure
of the fluid contained in one conduit and when set in motion causes another valve
to open a second conduit so as to allow fluid to pass through the latter, both conduits
communicating with the main fluid-receptacle.
The following are the most important applications:
1.) As a safety-appliance for preventing explosions of steam-generators and other
apparatus where pressure of gas or steam is to be produced or accumulated.
2.) As equilibrating or regulating apparatus in receptacles or water-pipes, where
a ram-action may be produced, the breaking effect of which this apparatus is
intended to prevent.
3.) In vacuum apparatus for maintaining a constant degree of vacuum. In
short, wherever it is useful and necessary to maintain a constant degree of fluid
pressure, equilibrium, or vacuum.
A typical apparatus embodying this invention is illustrated by the annexed
drawing, figs. 1. and. 2, fig. 1. being a vertical section and fig 2 a plan.
The controlling apparatus comprises:
1.) a cylinder A which contains a movable piston B, that gives way to the
pressure coming from the generator. (In the vacuum apparatus this piston is
exposed to the vacuum and therefore moved in the contrary direction, the
counterweight or springs being placed in a position symmetrical to that shown
by the drawing.
2.) a toothed piston-rod F. gearing into a forked sector C keyed on the axle M M
of a cylindrical slide-valve D.
which
3.) two counter-weights P. P. fixed at the extremity of the levers
are keyed on the axle M M, (These counterweights may be replaced by
springs R.)
The separate conduits T, K admit the steam, gas or other fluid, the former to
the cylindrical slide valve D, the latter to the cylinder, in which works the
piston B (In a vacuum apparatus the air flows through the port T, if the degree
of vacuum tends to rise above the imposed limit, the port K allowing that vacuum
to act upon the piston B.)
The ports XY of the circular slide-valve and the section Z of the conduit T are
calculated to allow an escape (in case of pressure) or an admission of air (in case
of vacuum) sufficient to maintain constantly the desired pressure or the vacuum in
the boiler, generator or condenser.

page_text: A registering apparatus I and an alarm-whistle J. may be employed, both moved
by the rack F.
The cylindrical slide-valvo D, fig. 3, may have two or more ports Y ending into
the exhaust-port W, the sectional area of which will be equal to the sum of the
Bections Y.
The different parts of this apparatus may be made of metal.
Fig. 4. represents a special type designed for locomotives and portable steam
engines.
The slide-valve D is replaced by a second piston B₁ fixed to the other extremity
of the bar F, the principle of the separation of the currents being also strictly
observed.
R represents the spring replacing the counter weights.
S the cover of the cylinder D supporting that spring.
Na plate acting upon the spring. The sectional area of the ports P. P. P.....
O. O. O..... M. M. M. is constant and equal to the above mentioned section Z.
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. In a fluid pressure regulator or safety appliance, a pair of valves or pistons, or
a valve and a piston, connected with each other in the manner substantially as
described and communicating with the fluid receptacle by separate conduits.
2. The combination of a toothed piston-rod with a toothed sector.
3. The combination of a toothed sector with a circular slide valve.
4. The combination of a circular slide valve with one or more counterweights,
which can be replaced by springs.
5. A circular slide valve having two or more admission ports, as illustrated by
Fig 3.
6. The combination of two pistons mounted on the same rod and separated by
an helical spring.
The whole being constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described
and represented by the drawings and for the purposes specified.
1
MARCELIN CASTELNAU.
CHARLES MICHELET.
By Herbert & Co., Agents,
67, Strand.