IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TAPS OR VALVES FOR REGULATING THE PASSAGE OF GAS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Anderson, of 22, Queen's Road, Dalston, in
the County of Middlesex, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TAPS OR VALVES FOR REGULATING THE
PASSAGE OF GAS."
Sele d the 6th February 1857, and dated the 9th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Anderson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
August 1856.
I, GEORGE ANDERSON, of 22, Queen's Road, Dalston, in the County of
Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TAPS OR VALVES FOR REGULATING
THE PASSAGE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in the construction of taps or valves for
regulating & altering the direction of the passage of gas, refers to taps or
valves which in the seat & in the motion of the plug or diaphragm are
similar to what is known as a four-way tap, that is to say, it is internally of a
cylindrical or conical figure; & has four or more openings of communication,
any adjoining two of which may be placed in communication.
This I effect in one case by a thin partition fitted to the seat, in the manner
of the plug of such taps, & which on being turned alters the passage of gas as

page_text: required; this altering or regulating part being only a thin diaphragm, the
part in contact is not liable to stick or set fast, or so soon to become useless, as
ordinary four-way taps. The ends of the cylinder or conical seat are of
course closed by the ends or solid parts of the plug, which entirely fill the
chamber, & being accurately fitted, no part of that bearing surface is subject to
the prejudicial action of the gas.
By this arrangement of the parts of the valve, it answers the purpose now
commonly performed in gasworks, by the application of three rack valves to
shut off, & also pass a vessel, or to connect combinations of not more than two
purifiers or other vessels. By another arrangement, & employing two or more
diaphragms, any two of the openings in the seat can be placed in communica-
tion, & this arrangement of the parts of the valve will be found convenient in
gasworks in connecting together combinations of more than two purifiers, &
when so employed each valve will answer the purpose of four rack valves, that
is to say, that four double purifiers may be arranged so that any one of the
four can be made first, second, or third, whereas by the application of common
valves six in number is required to perform such changes.
By another position of the valve, the course of the gas can be diverted by the
space other than between the diaphragms. In all cases the diaphragms are
comparatively thin, & the edges with small bearing surface, with a view to
obviate adhesion to the seat. Valves of this construction also permit a
larger thoroughfare than the ordinary valves or taps before alluded to.
Means of lubricating the valves at top and bottom are provided, & in such
manner that the oil is not permitted to escape from the bearing intended to be
oiled into the body of the valve. When larger valves of this description are
used, it may be necessary to employ wheel & pinion gear for the
multiplying the power.
purpose
of
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Anderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ANDERSON, of 22, Queen's Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex,
Gas Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August; in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said George
Anderson, Her special licence that I, the said George Anderson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Anderson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TAPS OR
VALVES FOR REGULATING THE PASSAGE 07 GAS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Anderson, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Anderson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
Jetters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
The object of my Invention is to produce taps or valves which shall afford a
large thoroughfare, be easily worked, and little liable to get out of repair,
which may also be arranged in a simple manner to connect any number of
purifiers, so that the crudo gas will at all times be admitted to the foulest
purifier first, and through the rest in succession, in all cases, being finished in
the cleanest vessel last, irrespective of the position of those vessels in the range
of purifiers.
By means of my improved taps or valves this object is accomplished simply
by one valve for each purifier, whereas, according to the ordinary arrangement
of valves, four times the number are required to effect the same changes,
thereby entailing great extra expense in first cost, also in repairs, besides being
complicated to work.
My Invention of improvements in the construction of taps or valves for
regulating and altering the direction of the passage of gas, refers to taps or
valves which in the seat and in the motion of the plug or diaphragm are
somewhat similar to what is known as a four-way tap, that is to say, it is
internally of a cylindrical or conical figure, and has four or more openings of
communication, any adjoining two of which may be placed in communication.

page_text: This I effect in one case by a thin partition fitted to the seat, in the manner of
of the plug of such taps, and which on being turned alters the passage of gas
as required; this altering or regulating part being only a thin diaphragm or
partition, the part in contact is not liable to stick or set fast, or so soon to
become useless, as ordinary four-way cocks or taps. The ends of the cylinder
or conical seat are closed by the ends or solid parts of the plug. These parts
occupy the entire area of the chamber at each end, and being accurately fitted,
no part of their bearing surface is subject to the prejudicial action of the gas.
By this arrangement of the parts of the valve, it answers the purpose now
commonly performed in gasworks, by the application of three rack valves to
shut off, and also to pass a vessel, or to connect combinations of not more than
two purifiers or other vessels.
By another arrangement, and employing two or more diaphragms, any two
of the openings in the seat at right angles can be placed in communication,
and this arrangement of the parts of the valve will be found convenient in gas-
works in connecting together combinations of more than two purifiers; when so
employed each valve will answer the purpose of four rack valves, that is to say,
three, four, or more single or double purifiers may be so arranged that any one
of the four can be made first, second, or third, and so on; whereas, by the
application of common valves, four times the number of valves are required to
ellect similar changes.
By another position of the valve the course of the gas can be diverted by
the space other than between the diaphragms. In all cases the diaphragms
are comparatively thin, and the edges with small bearing surface, with a view.
to obviate adhesion to the valve seats. Valves of this construction also permit
a larger thoroughfare than the ordinary valves or taps before alluded to.
Means of lubricating the valves at top and bottom are provided in such a
manner that the oil is not permitted to escape from the bearing intended to be
ciled into the body of the valve. When large valves of this description are
used, it may be necessary to employ wheel and pinion gear for the purpose of
multiplying the power.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a gas valve or tap constructed according to my Invention,
arranged in combination with one purifier or other vessel E, either as a shut-
off or by-pass valve; Fig. 2 is an outside elevation of the valve complete;
Fig. 3, a vertical section; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the diaphragm or moving
part of the valve, while Figs. 5 and 6 represent vertical and horizontal sections
of the diaphragm. a, a, is the body of the valve, consisting of a conical chamber,
in which the diaphragm or plug 6 is accurately fitted. The chamber a has four

page_text: passages c, c, c, c, any adjoining two of which may be connected. It will be
observed that the upper and lower parts d, d, of diaphragm b are cylindrical,
and are fitted to and bear throughout their entire circumference of the chamber
a, while the narrow edge of the diaphragm 6 has contact only. f is a cover,
which encloses the upper part of the valve, and keeps the diaphragm 6 in
position.
In Fig. 1 the valve is represented with the cover f removed, and with the
diaphragm in section, in connection with one purifier. In the position shown
the black arrow represents the course of the gas as it circulates through the
purifier. The diaphragm b, when moved to the position shewn dotted, cuts off
the purifier E, and allows the gas to pass by, as shewn by the red arrow.
Fig. 7 represents two double gas purifiers F and G, or other vessels, arranged
and connected with two valves, according to my Invention, the same as last
bercin-before described. When the valve diaphragms 6, 6, are disposed as
represented in this Figure, the gas enters and follows the course of the black
arrow, it enters at a, and passes through both purifiers, and escapes at *.
If it is desired to throw one purifier (say G) out of the course for cleaning,
or other purposes, the diaphragm b'is moved to the position represented dotted,
when the gas enters at a as before, but follows the course of the red arrow,
passes through purifier F only, and escapes at z, as before. By reversing the
position of both diaphragms, the gas may be caused to pass through
F, and afterwards through G, instead of the reverse, as represented, by course
of dotted black line. The arrangement of the gas to pass through either of
the purifiers first will depend upon which is the most foul, that one being
chosen as the first in the course of the gas. The position of the valves may
be arranged to throw either one of the purifiers out of use, as before described.
The purifiers are represented with their covers removed, as also the covers of
the valves.
Fig. 8 represents a plan, and Fig. 9 a horizontal section, of another arrange-
meut of gas valve according to my Invention, which when arranged in com-
bination with three or more purifiers or other vessels (one for each vessel) the
several changes in the passage of the gas before mentioned may be effected.
Fig. 10 represents a plan in illustration of the arrangement of four purifiers
combined, and connected with my improved valves.
The elevation Fig. 2, and vertical section Fig. 3, also apply as views of this
valve; while Fig. 11 represents a side view of the plug or double diaphragm,
and Fig. 12 a horizontal section of the same. The plug or moving part I of
Fig. 12, consists of two diaphragms h, h, and a branch or arm piece i, i, by
which the changes in the passages of the valve are effected, as will be best

page_text: understood by reference to the section, Fig. 9; this Figure showing the posi-
tions in which the several valves are represented in connection with the four
purifiers in Fig. 10. The several parts of the moving plug or diaphragm are
fitted to the chamber or body of the valve, as before described with reference
to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
In this valve, see Fig. 9, 1 is always the inlet, which is open, while the
diaphragm is disposed, as there represented, establishing a communication with
m. The other positions of the valve are represented dotted black and red.
When the part H is in the position dotted black a through passage is formed,
connecting n and m, but cutting off both land o. In the position shown red
a communication is established between n and o, while all communication of
and m is cut off. These three positions are the positions used in the com-
bination of the four purifiers, represented in Fig. 10, at A, B, C, & D. In
this Figure purifier 4 is cut off to permit of being cleansed, while purifiers 1, 2,
and 3 are combined and in action, the first one being the foulest, and the third
that which has been recently cleansed. K is the foul main, or that through
which the impurified gas is passed to the purifier, as the valves are herein
arranged. This gas follows the course of the arrow and dotted line; during this
course the valve A is disposed as represented at Fig. 9, establishing the
communication between l, m, and admitting the gas to the purifier 1; the
valves B and C are disposed as represented dotted in Fig. 9, establishing the
communication between n, m, and passing the gas directly through the
purifiers 2, 3; while the valve D is in the position shown red in Fig. 9,
establishing the communication between 1, 0, and thereby permitting the gas
to escape into the clean main L in a purified state.
Supposing the purifier 4 to be cleansed and again fit for use, and that
purifier 1 being the most foul, is to be cleansed next in succession, the valve A,
Fig. 10, is moved to the red line position, Fig. 9, valve B is at the same
time moved to open the communication between l, m, and is now, therefore,
the inlet valve, while valve D is moved to the dotted position, Fig. 9, and
therefore becomes a through valve. The gas will now pass through purifiers
2, 3, and 4, thence by junction main M, M, to valve A, which establishes the
communication with the clean main L through n, o, by which the purified gas
passes away. By another change in the valves, purifier 3 may be made tho
first of the series, when the gas would pass into 3 and 4, and lastly through
1, escaping by valve B in that case into main L.
Thus, with a simple arrangement of four of my improved taps or valves, the
several changes can be effected that are necessary in working a number of
combined purifiers.

page_text: Fig. 8 represents the hand lever p for actuating the valve, as arranged for
Fig. 10. The hand lever p in Fig. 8. has the reference letters of the valves
A, B, C, and D applied, indicating the position of the hand lever in the
different positions of those valves. The lever p is jointed at 7, in order to
admit of the lever being placed on pins r, r,r, and held thereby in either of the
several positions required. The shape of the valves and the course of their
action ensure their keeping tight, and their moving with little friction, while
their motion scrapes the surface clean. In order to oil the surfaces, a passage &
(see Figures 3 & 12) is formed in the moving part b, which admits oil on
the top immediately under the cover f, and also by passage s¹ conveys it down
to the bottom of the valve seat or chamber.
In largo valves I place a horizontal wheel and pinion under the cover fto
increase the leverage for actuating the valve, using at the same time a pointer
on the top to indicate the position of the valve and state of the openings.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and tho manner in which the
same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim
as my Invention, protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,―
First, the construction and arrangement of tap or valve, described and
represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawing hereunto annexed,
for regulating and controlling the passage of gas.
Secondly, I claim the construction and arrangement of tap or valve herein-
before described, and represented in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Drawing
hereunto annexed, for regulating or controlling the passage of gas.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Anderson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
GEORGE ANDERSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. CLARK, Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane, London.