IM- PROVEMENTS IN GAS REGULATORS, APPLICABLE TO BURNERS AND METERS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by David Duff at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th May
1866.
I, DAVID DUFF, of Litchfield Street, Soho, in the County of Middlesex,
Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN GAS REGULATORS, APPLICABLE TO BURNERS AND METERS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of gas regu-
lators, applicable to the burners or meters, whereby a steady light is produced,
and a great economy in consumption of gas is effected; in addition to which
advantages a means is afforded of preventing the accidental escape of gas
from the burners. With regard to the means of regulating the supply or
flow of gas through the burners I propose to form on the internal periphery
or tube of the lower portion of the burner a femalo screw thread, into which
a male screw is made to gear; this male screw is formed with a milled edge
button or disc on its upper surface, surmounted by a tightening screw; this
male screw has a wedge-shaped cavity cut out, the apex of which is nearest
the upper surface of the metal, and it therefore follows that as the male screw
is raised or lowered in the tube the conical or wedge-formed recess will
present a greater or less open area for the passage or flow of gas from the
pipe through the burner, thus it is always easy to regulate the supply by the
adjustment of the screw valve. Should it be deemed necessary to stop the
supply of gas to the burner altogether, it is only necessary to removo

page_text: the upper portion of the burner and to screw down the valve, so that the
rim or border of the disc shall press tightly on the upper flange or surface of
the lower chamber of the burner, whereby the passage becomes completely
closed, and if the tap of the burner is turned open no gas can escape, and
therefore all chance of an accidental explosion will be avoided. With regard
to the regulator for meters, I propose to form a casing or chamber of any
suitable form, but by preference of a circular form; one end of this chamber
receives the supply pipe, the top of which is provided with a flange or seat,
the inner periphery of which is made to fit the arc of a sphere, or to be of a
curvilinear or dished-shape, in order to receive a corresponding valve which
shall fit such recess or seat. This valve is also provided with a flange or rim,
so as to register with the surface of the supply pipe. Above this valvo and
pressing thereon I place a tapering and helical spring of very thin metal, the
upper portion of the spring bearing against the lower surface of a tubular
spindle or rod having a male screw cut thereon, this rod being enlarged by
a recessed head at the lower extremity, into which recess the top of the
helical screw enters. This screw tubular spindle works in a stopper or plug,
which in its turn works in the female thread of the upper or outlet gas pipe,
so that both these screws can be regulated not only in regard to each other,
but also in regard to the lower valve. The stopper or plug being cut with a
wedge-shaped cavity whose apex is lowest, it follows that its elevation or
depression will permit of the escape of gas in a greater or less quantity as may
be desired. Should the pressure of the gas be very great, the lower floating
or rising and falling valve will close entirely upon the surface of the lower
flange of the screw plug and stop one source of escape, leaving only that by
the screw arrangement. This regulator may be placed in any convenient
position, vertically, horizontally, or otherwise, its action being the same in
all cases.