IMPROVEMENTS IN WET AND DRY GAS REGULATORS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Catherine Judkins, of 11, Park Terrace, Brixton,
in the County of Surry, Gas Regulator Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WET AND DRY GAS REGULATORS."
Sealed the 25th February 1873, and dated the 30th August 1872:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Catherine Judkins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition, on
the 30th August 1872.
I, CATHERINE JUDKINS, of 11, Park Terrace, Brixton, in the County
of Surry, Gas Regulator Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WET AND DRY GAS REGULATORS,"
to be as follows:-
--
First. In constructing this regulator in such a form that it can be
used at pleasure as a wet or dry regulator according to the situation in
which it is required to be placed. To accomplish this the outer case in
addition to being fitted with a trough for containing the mercury, and in

page_text: which the metal diaphragm loosely plays, has a projecting ledge which
is stepped so as to admit of the connection by means of screws of a
frame carrying a leather or elastic diaphragm; the latter requires no
mercury, and is preferable in situations where there is motion or for
use in railway carriages; the mercurial is preferable in fixed situations;
when the latter is used I introduce an improved arrangement in
balancing the valve and giving increased steadiness and sensitiveness to
the regulator by connecting with the joint of the valve a spring or a
balance weight, and by fixing a stud in the diaphragm with small
circular fitting weights to be adjusted at pleasure. To change, it is only
necessary to remove the loose metallic diaphragm and mercury and
fasten the weights on the stud above the valve centre, screw into its
place the iron frame carrying the elastic diaphragm.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Catherine Judkins in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th February 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CATHERINE
JUDKINS, of 11, Park Terrace, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Gas
Regulator Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Catherine Judkins, Her special
licence that I, the said Catherine Judkins, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Oatherine Judkins,
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, usė,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great, Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN WET AND DRY GAS REGULATORS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Catherine Judkins, my executors or adminis-

page_text: trators, 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
5 six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Catherine Judkins, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
First. In constructing this regulator in such a form that it can be
used at pleasure as a wet or dry regulator according to the situation in
which it is required to be placed. To accomplish this the outer case
in addition to being fitted with a trough for containing the mercury,
and in which the metal diaphragm loosely plays, has a projecting ledge
which is stepped so as to admit of the connection by means of screws of
a frame carrying a leather or elastic diaphragm; the latter requires no
mercury, and is preferable in situations where there is motion, as for
use in railway carriages; the mercurial is preferable in fixed situations,
when the latter is used I introduce an improved arrangement in
balancing the valve and in giving increased steadiness and sensitiveness
to the regulator by connecting with the joint of the valve a spring or a
balance weight, and by fixing a stud in the diaphragm with small
circular fitting weights to be adjusted at pleasure. To change, it is only.
necessary to remove the loose metallic diaphragm and mercury and
fasten the weights on the stud above the valve centre, screw into its
place the iron frame carrying the elastic diaphragm.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe more fully the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

page_text: from shifting when adjusted, V, the valve; L, the spring to raise the
valve up; F, F, a small ring running round the valve space that should
any mercury be accidentally spilt it will be prevented from passing into
and injuring the meter; H, the pin upon which the pressure weights I
are placed; J, a stop and screw to prevent the diaphragm from rising
too high; S, a small screwed hole for a plug or syphon tap to draw off
any condensed moisture that may collect in the fittings.
Y, the valve; D, the spring to raise the
valve up; F, F, a small ring running round the valve space that should
any mercury be accidentally spilt it will be prevented from passing into
and injuring the meter; H, the pin upon which the pressure weights I
are placed; J, a stop and screw to prevent the diaphragm from rising
too high; S, a small screwed hole for a plug or syphon tap to draw off
any condensed moisture that may collect in the fittings.
Fig. 2, end section, showing the diaphragm D', pivot screws B, B, and
mercurial trough M.
Fig. 3 shows a form of lever, balance, and weight, that can be used
in lieu of a spring for regulating valve.
Fig. 4 shows a section lengthwise in the dry form, where instead of
mercury there is a flexible diaphragm either of leather, india-rubber, or
other substance. K represents the flexible diaphragm; N, N, screws
passing through a flange O, O, running round the instrument and
bolting down the flexible diaphragm; I, the pressure weights; P, a
metallic plate on the top of flexible diaphragm to which the valve V is
attached.
Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 4. O, the flange or frame, and N the screws
bolting down the flexible diaphragm K; P, the metallic plate to which
the valve is attached; I, the pressure weights; and G, the lock nut.
The action may be described as follows:--In Fig. 1 the gas passing
in the direction of the arrow through the inlet or regulating valve V
will have a direct pressure upon the under side of the diaphragm D,
which is hinged at the end D¹ by two pivot screws B, B, (shewn in end
section Fig. 2), and so cause it to rise, and doing which the regulating
spring or balance valve with the upward pressure against the adjustable
screw E will rise in proportion, and so narrow and contract the gas way
until it has risen to the point at which the pressure weights are set.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would have
it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The combination in one form of a wet and dry regulator
changeable from the one to the other at pleasure.

page_text: Second. The giving of additional steadiness and sensitiveness of action
by the application of a spring or a balance weight in connection with
the valve and the weights, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Catherine Judkins, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
0
Witness,
JOHN JERVIS GARRARD,
43, Lime Street,
E.C.
CATHERINE JUDKINS. (L.S.)