Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS FLETCHER of Thynne Street Warrington in the County of Lancaster
Gas Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for heating water by means of gas and has
for its object to effect the automic control of the gas supply by means of the water
supply.
These Improvements consist in an arrangement whereby a valve closing or
controlling the gas supply is opened or closed as a consequence of the opening or
closing of the valve or cock controlling the water supply.
For the purpose of my Invention I construct a double chamber the two cavities
of which are separated by an indiarubber or partly indiarubber and partly metallie
diaphragm or by a diaphragm or partition constructed of other suitable material or
materials. Through the diaphragm or partition and having its fulcrum therein or
thereon is passed a lever. In one of the chambers or cavities there is formed a gas
inlet and outlet and in the other cavity a water inlet and outlet. The gas and
water inlets are respectively closed or controlled by valves the stems of which are
within the respective chambers. These two valves are so arranged that in
opening they move in contrary directions. The stems of the valves are connected
respectively to the opposite ends of the lever and it follows therefore that when
the water valve is opened the gas valve will also be simultaneously opened. The
water outlet pipe is provided with a cock upon turning or opening which the
water valve is opened by the pressure of the water and consequently the gas valve
is also opened.
The general arrangement and action of the apparatus may be thus briefly
described: The water outlet and the gas outlet of the double chamber are con-
nected respectively to the water heater and to the gas burner. When a supply of
hot water is desired the water is turned on by the control cock and the gas is at
the same time turned on to the burner by the automatic action of the valve so that
no other operation is needed. A pilot light of the usual or any suitable type is
employed with the burner to light it when the gas supply is turned on.

page_text: Conting theas supply in Apparatus for eating water
by Means of Gas.
I; THOMAS FLETCHER of Thynne Street Warrington in the County of Lancaster
Gas Engineer 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:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for heating water by means of gas and has
for its object to effect the automatic control of the gas supply by means of the
water supply.
'
These Improvements consist in an arrangement whereby a valve closing or
controlling the gas supply is opened or closed as a consequence of the opening or
closing of the valve or cock controlling the water supply.
For the purpose of my Invention 1 construct a double chamber the two cavities
of which are separated by a flexible diaphragm or partition. Through the
diaphragm or partition and having its fulcrum therein or thereon is passed a
lever. In one of the chambers or cavities there is formed a gas inlet and outlet
and in the other cavity a water inlet and outlet. The gas and water inlets are
respectively closed or controlled by valves the stems of which are within the
respective chambers. These two valves are so arranged that in opening they move
in contrary directions. The stems of the valves are connected respectively to the
opposite end of the lever and it follows therefore that when the water valve is
opened the gas valve will also be simultaneously opened. The water inlet or
outlet pipe is provided with a cock upon turning or opening which the water valve
is opened by the pressure of the water and consequently the gas valve is also
opened.
The general arrangement and action of the apparatus may be thus briefly
described; the water outlet and the gas outlet of the double chamber are connected
respectively to the water heater and to the gas burner. When a supply of hot water
is desired the water is turned on by the control cock and the gas is at the same
time turned on to the burner by the automatic action of the valve so that no other
operation is needed. A pilot light of any suitable type is employed with the
burner to light it when the gas supply is turned on by the automatic valve.
And in order that this Invention may be more readily understood and carried
into effect I have hereunto appended a sheet of Drawings having the Figures
thereon marked with similar letters to denote similar parts and reference being
hereinafter had thereto.
Fig. 1 represents in longitudinal section and Fig. in end elevation an apparatus
by means of which the gas supply is controlled by the water supply according to
these Improvements.
A is the water inlet, B the water outlet, C a valve capable of closing the water
inlet. The stem of C passes through the water chamber D and is guided at its
opposite end by the hole or recess E into which it fits and which also contains the

page_text: spiral spring F the tendency of which is to close C upon its seating. G is the gas
inlet and H the gas outlet which is capable of being closed by the valve I the stem
of which passes through the gas chamber or cavity K and is guided by the hole L
into which it fits. The chambers or cavities D and K are separated from each
other by the flexible diaphragm or partition or its equivalent M which carries a
lever, the two arms of which N and N¹ pass respectively through slots in the stems
of the valves C and I. The fulcrum of the lever is in M. A is connected with the
water supply by pipes or tubes in which at any convenient place is fixed an
ordinary cock or valve. B is connected by a pipe or tube with the water heating
vessel. G is connected with the gas service and H to the gas burners employed in
heating the water, or alternatively G may be connected to the burners and H to the
gas service. It is obvious that from the arrangement and combination of the
various parts of the apparatus indicated on the Drawings and herein before
described, that when the water supply is turned on through A the valve C will
be moved from its seating to a greater or less distance as governed by the quantity
of water passing. This motion is transferred through N and N₁ to the gas valve I
which is therefore at the same time opened to a corresponding greater or less
distance and consequently the gas supply is at all times increased diminished or
determined by the water supply.
It is not essential that the valve or cock controlling the water supply should be
on the pipes joining A with the water supply as it may with equal effect be placed
between B and the water heater or on the outlet from the water heater and the
arrangement or combination of the various parts may be modified in various ways
as will be readily understood, and further the spring F may be dispensed with by
making the valve C a gravity valve.
I am aware that it has already been proposed to govern the valve controlling the
gas supply in similar apparatus by connecting it to a valve actuated by the water
supply, but so far as I am aware it has never been proposed to connect them other-
wise than by a sliding rod or rods which require to pass through glands or packed
joints. These glands or packed joints would require periodical supervision and
introduce a considerable amount of friction both of which would be serious defects
in practice, but by these Improvements their use is avoided.
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.) The method of controlling the supply of gas to an apparatus for heating
water by means of gas, consisting in actuating the gas supply valve by means of a
single lever operated by the water supply valve and having its fulcrum in a
flexible or movable diaphragm or partition dividing the water cavity or chamber
from the gas cavity or chamber, substantially as hereinbefore described.
(2.) In an apparatus for controlling the supply of gas to an apparatus for heating
water by means of gas, the arrangement and combination of the valves C and I
with the lever N N₁ the flexible or movable diaphragm or partition M and the
spring F or its equivalent, substantially as herein before described and as illustrated
on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
THE
P
1000
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.