An Improved Automatic Gas Valve and Regulator as applied to Water Heating Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Gas Valve and Regulator as applied to
Water Heating Apparatus.
I, THOMAS EUSTACE BARRALET, of 51 Queen Victoria Street, City, in the
County of London, Secretary do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention consists of an automatic gas valve applied to water heating
apparatus, so arranged that the opening or closing of the water supply likewise opens
or closes the gas supply; also, a gas regulator or governor combined with the same
which is worked by the pressure of gas so that there is always the same quantity
passing the valve-thus preventing the smoke &c. caused by an excessive pressure
of gas, if unchecked.
For this purpose, at, or a little above the top of the water heater I place a box,
with an outlet tube projecting over the top of the apparatus. Through the
bottom of this box I put a tube, inside which works a plunger or piston which is
forced up by the pressure of the inflowing cold water and drops by its own weight
when the water is turned off. 1 also put another tube which runs through the
bottom of the box down to the gas supply pipe. Inside this tube (which extends
some distance up inside the box) is a rod connected to a valve which opens or
closes the gas supply. Over the top of the tube I place a dome or inverted cup to
which is connected the rod working the gas valve. I connect the piston in the
water supply tube to the dome by means of an arm hinged about midway between
them, which is so connected to the dome that it will lift the dome but will drop
down without it.
The method of working is as follows:
When the cold water is turned on by a tap placed outside the box, the force lifts
up the plunger or piston which moves the arm & frees the dome, so that it drops of
its own weight. The water then fills the box to the level of the outlet and then
runs out of same into the water heater.
The dome, with connecting rod & valve, dropping, allows a way for the gas.
which passes the valve and enters the burner of the apparatus. If the pressure of
gas is beyond a normal amount it acts upon the dome (passing up the tube
connecting the gas supply pipe with the box) and, raising it, partially closes the
valve, in proportion to the pressure. The gas is prevented from escaping from the
dome by the water which surrounds it acting as a seal-the outlet from the box
being placed high. enough to always retain sufficient water in the box. If the
water supply is discontinued the plunger or piston drops, which moves the arm &
closes the gas valve. It may be desirable in some cases to allow the gas regulator
to work as a regulator or governor alone and have a supplementary gas valve
constructed in the same way, but with a tube closed at the top instead of the dome
over the inner tube, to be actuated by the water piston.
It is obvious that either the gas regulator, or the water piston connected with
the gas valve, may be used separately from each other.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1893.

page_text: An Improved Automatic Gas Valve and Regulator as applied to
Water Heating Apparatus.
I, THOMAS EUSTACE BARRALET of 51* Queen Victoria Street, in the City of
London, Secretary, 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:―
CC
"
This invention is in connection with or relates to water heating apparatus-
more particularly of the character known as Geysers or bath-water heaters or
for analogous purposes-and consists of improved means for automatically opening
and shutting off the supply of gas to such apparatus by utilising the pressure or
flow of the water in its passage to or from the said apparatus and also to means
for independently governing the gas supply while at the same time the independent
control of the gas supply by the water supply is not interfered with which latter
arrangement may or may not be used in conjunction with the former-and my
said invention will now be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the
claims.
And in order that my said invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to fully describe same with reference to the
drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional view showing the gas and water valves and
their connections or adjuncts.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the opposite direction that is on line A-A Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section (i.e. sectional plan) on line B-B Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of another arrangement i.c. governing the gas
independently of and in addition to controlling the gas supply by means of the
water pressure.
Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 4.
I will first describe Figs. 1 to 3 which show an apparatus according to my
present invention without the independent governing of the gas.
a is the water supply passage.
b is the casing.
c is a pipe leading to the gas valve, and enclosing the gas valve spindle r.
d is a tube (closed at the top) which encloses the upper part of c and in
conjunction with which and the water in the chamber or compartment m in the
casing thereby makes a seal to prevent the escape of gas from the upper
end of c.
e is a disc or piston valve (hereinafter termed the "water valve ") operating in
the water inlet passage a.
fis a spindle carrying the said water valve e.
g is transverse bar or rod which firmly connects the water valve spindle to the
gas valve spindle in such manner that the movement imparted to the said water
valve e will thereby be simultaneously imparted to the gas valve spindle r and
consequently to the gas valve s.
o is the spout which communicates by means of the opening with the water
inlet passage a and also communicates by means of the separate opening with the
chamber m in the casing b wherein operates the aforesaid tubed so that the level of
the water in the spout o will thereby be communicated to the said chamber m and
make an effectual gas seal without at the same time any water passing over the top
of the pipe c
The operation is as follows:-
On water being turned on or permitted to flow into the passage a (see Figs. 1
and 2) before same can pass through the opening to the spout o and thence into

page_text: c is the pipe enclosing the gas valve spindle.
d is a dome or large tube closed at its upper end--fixed to and carried by the
gas valve spindle ¹.
s is the gas valve controlling the gas supply through the passage.
is an aperture leading from the water inlet pipe or passage a' to the spout o',
and
y is a water passage leading from the said spout to the chamber m² in the
interior of the casing in which the closed tube or dome d' operates.
is the water valve spindle which is linked or otherwise suitably connected
to the end of a pivotted bar or lever h. This pivotted bar or lever h is
mounted on a stationary support or standard i fixed to the casing so that
said lever can pivot or turn on the pin or centre 2 or may be otherwise
suitably mounted to suit my purposes.
The other end 3 of this lever h is forked or slotted or otherwise suitably formed
so that the upper end of the gas valve spindle can freely pass through same
upwards or downwards a cross pin being mounted in the upper end thereof so
that when the water valve el fulls and thereby brings down the end of the lever h
thus the end of said lever will engage said pin and raise the valve spindle 1
and consequently the valves is forced tightly up against its seating and thus
closes the gas supply.
It will readily be seen that the action or operation of opening and closing the
gas valves by means of the water pressure is equivalent in all respects with the
arrangement previously described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3-the water
pressure forcing up the valve el and thereby opening the gas valve s¹ while said
valve el is or may be made heavy or may be weighted to bring same down when
the water pressure ceases.
At the same time the water flowing through the passage y' makes a water seal
around the pipe c¹ and between the latter and the dome d' and thereby prevents
escape of gas out of the top of the said pipe c'.
In addition to this operation however-by the arrangement shown in Figs. 4
and 5 the gas supply is independently regulated (during the constant or steady
supply of the water) as follows:-
Any excessive pressure of gas in the gas supply pipe after passing on its
way to the burner will rise inside the pipe c' and pass into the dome d' which

page_text: latter by reason of this pressure will be forced upwards and will carry with it the
spindle '.
Now this spindle as we have already seen is free to pass up or move through
the lever hand consequently without affecting or moving the said lever h this
gas valve spindle r¹ will be thus raised and will thereby draw up the gas valve s¹
and close or partially close or cut off the gas supply. The pressure in d¹ will now
be relieved by the gas passing down inside the pipe c' and so to the burner or
point of ignition and as soon as the said pressure is thus relieved the dome d'
descends once more thereupon the spindle is moved down the gas valve s¹ is
re-opened (or further opened) and by this means the valve s¹ is caused to assume
such a position as to allow only the desired amount of gas to pass to the burner
(this governor can be weighted to suit the pressure of gas as is well understood
with the ordinary domestic governors) and the supply of gas through z to the
point of ignition is thus automatically and independently regulated.
I have herembefore described the apparatus according to my present invention
as actuated by the inflowing water but it will be obvious that if desired said
apparatus may be so arranged and mounted as to be actuated by the water as it
flows through or flows out of the water-heating apparatus without departing from
the true nature of my said invention.
I would here remark that I am fully aware that the pressure or flow of the
water (or stoppage thereof) on its way to the geyser has been utilised in various
ways for the purpose of turning on or cutting off the gas supply and I make no
claim separately thereto or to any of the parts separately which may have been
known before the date of my present Patent but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
do claim is :-
1. In water heating apparatus of the character described and in which the flow
or stoppage of the water automatically controls the gas supply the arrangement
and combination with a piston or water valve operating in a chamber formed in
some part of the water passage, of a second and separate chamber or cavity, a pipe
leading to the gas valve and terminating in said second chamber, a tube closed at
one end or cap enclosing the open end of said pipe, a spindle operating in said
pipe and having the gas valve fixed to one end and attached to and carrying the
said cap towards its other end, means for connecting said gas valve spindle to said
water valve, and a channel or water way between said water passage and said
cavity or second chamber so that the latter is always supplied with water and a gas
tight seal thereby made and ensured when the gas is turned on by the flow of the
water substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth.
a
2. In an apparatus of the character described-the combination of a water
chamber or passage and a water valve in said passage operated by the flow of the
water therein, with a second and separate chamber or cavity in which a water seal
for the gas valve mechanism is made, a channel or water way between said cavity
and some part of the water passage and connections between said water valve and
gas valve substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus of the character described-the arrangement and combination of
water valve operating in the water passage, a cavity or chamber in which
terminates a pipe or passage leading to the gas valve, a spindle attached at its
lower end to said gas valve and operating in said pipe and towards its upper end
attached to an enlarged tube closed at one end or dome which fits over said open
end of said pipe, a connection between the upper end of said spindle and said water
valve in such manner that after the opening of the gas valve by the water valve
upward and downward movement of the said spindle is permitted independently of
the said water valve substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
4. In apparatus of the character described-the arrangement and combination of

page_text: a water valve operating in the water passage, a cavity or chamber in which
terminates a pipe or passage leading to the gas valve a spindle attached at its
lower end to said gas valve and operating in said pipe and towards its upper end
attached to an enlarged tube closed at one end or dome which fits over said open
end or said pipe a connection between the upper end of said spindle and said water
valve in such manner that after the opening of the gas valve by the water valve
upward and downward movement of the said spindle is permitted independently of
the said water valve and a channel or water way between said water passage and
said cavity or chamber so that water is caused to flow into said chamber and a
water seal is thereby made when the gas is turned on by the flow of the water
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described.
5. In a water-heating apparatus of the character described-the combination
therewith of a chamber or cavity for a gas governor of the character described and
a connection between same and some part of the water passage in such manner that
the flow of water will fill said chamber to a suitable height and thereby ensure a
water seal in said governor chamber or cavity whenever the water heating
apparatus is put in use.
6. The improved apparatus arranged combined and acting substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the drawings
hereunto annexed.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1801
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.