IMPROVEMENTS IN REGU- LATING GAS TAPS OR GAS STOP-TAPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Carter Ainsworth, of Bury, in the County of
Lancaster, Licensed Victualler, and Robert Knowles Roberts, of Tottington, in
the same County, Bleacher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGU-
LATING GAS TAPS OR GAS STOP-TAPS."
Sealed the 5th September 1879, and dated the 10th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Carter Ainsworth
and Robert Knowles Roberts at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 10th June 1879.
JOHN CARTER AINSWORTH, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Licensed
Victualler, and ROBERT KNOWLES ROBERTS, of Tottington, in the same County,
Bleacher. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING GAS TAPS OR GAS STOP-TAPS."
My Invention relates to the gas taps which are employed to regulate the flow of
illuminating gas from the meters, or are otherwise used to regulate the flow of gas
in service pipes, or to permit or stop such flow as may be required. The object of
our Invention is to render such taps more capable of being used as means for
regulating the pressure of the gas or for controlling the consumption of the gas,
whereby an economy in the consumption of gas is obtained. To this end we form
channels in the circumference of the plug, each channel extending partly around
the said circumference. Each channel opens into one of the thoroughfares through
the plug, and is deepest at the point of junction with such thoroughfare, becoming
gradually shallower as it recedes from the said thoroughfare, until it dies out at the
other end. We may form only one such channel opening into a thoroughfare, or
two or more of such channels. The gas is admitted to the said channel or channels
through a comparatively narrow port or slot, or through two or more slots or per-
forations. To obtain room for the said channels we form the plug larger in
diameter than is usual as compared with the widths of the thoroughfares. When
the plug is rotated the area of passage for the flow of gas is greater or less, according

page_text: as deeper or shallower portions of the said channels are brought into direct com-
munication with the gas inlet passage or passages. As further means for reducing
the pressure and for filtering the gas we fix partitions of gauze within the plug in
such a manner as that the gas flowing through the tap has to pass through the
meshes of the said gauze. We fix two, three, or more layers or partitions of gauze
within the plug, as may be considered to be most suitable, the gauze being either
of uniform fineness or varying in degrees of fineness, as preferred. In order to get
the said gauze into position we forin the said plug in two or more parts, which
are secured together when the gauze is in position, but this arrangement may be
varied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Carter Ainsworth and Robert Knowles Roberts in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 10th December 1879.
JOHN CARTER AINSWORTH, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Licensed
Victualler, and ROBERT KNOWLES ROBERTS, of Tottington, in the same County,
Bleacher. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING GAS TAPS OR GAS STOP TAPS."
Our Invention relates to the gas taps which are employed to regulate the flow of
illuminating gas from the meters, or are otherwise used to regulate the flow of gas
in service pipes, or to permit or stop auch now as may be required. The object of
our Invention is to render such taps more capable of being used as means for
regulating the pressure of the gas, or for controlling the consumption of the gas,
whereby an economy in such consumption is obtained. To this end we form
channels in the circumference of the plug, each channel extending partly around
the said circumference. Each channel opens into one of the thoroughfares through
the plug, and is deepest at the point of junction with such thoroughfare, becoming
gradually shallower as it recedes from the said thoroughfare until it dies out at the
other end. The gas is admitted to the said channels through a comparatively
narrow port or slot, or through two or m, re slots or perforations. To obtain room
for the said channels we form the plug larger in diameter than is usual as compared
with the widths of the thoroughfares. When the plug is rotated the area of
passage for the flow of gas is greater or less according as deeper or shallower
portions of the said channels are brought into direct communication with the gas
inlet passage or passages. As further means for reducing the pressure and for
filtering the gas we fix a partition or partitions of gauze within the plug in such a
manner as that the gas flowing through the tap has to pass through the meshes of
the said gauze.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood we have attached hereunto
a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference, corresponding marks
indicating the same parts in the various Figures. Referring to the said Drawings,
Fig. 1 represents one of our improved gas taps, the body of the tap being in section;
Fig. 2 represents a section at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a section on
the line a, b; and Fig. 4 is a view of the plug withdrawn from its seating. In the
said Figs. A is the plug, which is fitted in a seating prepared in the body or shell
of the tap. This body is formed with suitable branches or parts for connection
with the gas piping. The plug is formed with ports or passages C, C', through
which the gas flows. Channels c, c¹, are sunk in the surface on opposite sides of
the plug, each channel communicating with the port C or C¹, as the case may be.
Each channel decreases in depth until it dies out at the end furthest from the
port C. Partitions D, D¹, extend partly across the thoroughfare in the branches
of the body, the inner surfaces of these partitions forming part of the seating of the
plug. In the said seating channels d, d³, are formed, each channel being deepest at
the end which opens into the branch or gas thoroughfare, and becoming gradually
shallower until it dies out, as in the case of the channels c, c¹. When the plug is
in the position indicated in Fig. 2 it will be seen that the gas flowing in the
direction indicated by the arrows has access to the port C through the channels c
and d, and leaves the port through the channels c¹ and d'. We prefer that the
efflux channels c¹ and d shall have a larger proportion than the influx channels c, d.
As the plug is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow the areas of the
passages become more and more restricted, so that the flow of gas is checked. But
it will be seen that the plug may be rotated to a considerable extent before the gas
is actually shut off, the gas flowing from the shallow ends of one set of channels
into the corresponding ends of the other set of channels. When the plug is turned
in the direction contrary to the indicating arrow an unrestricted or nearly
unrestricted flow of gas is obtained when such may be required. By turning the

page_text: plug in one direction on the other the flow of gas may be regulated with great
nicety to the requirements. The rotation of the plug is limited by means of the
projecting stop e. In the example the plug is formed in two parts, one part F
being attached by means of screws G to the main body of the plug. Behind the
part Fa recess is formed, in which is or are placed one or more diaphragms of wire
gauze E. The gas flowing through the ports in the plug has to pass through the
meshes of the said gauze. The reason for the peculiar formation of the plug is
simply that the said gauze may be placed in position, but this may be otherwise
effected, as, for example, the bottom end of the plug may be removable, so that a
frame holding sheets of gauze may be passed into the interior of the plug. We
may fix one gauze diaphragm, or two, or three, or more within the plug, and across
either or both the influx and efflux ports C, C¹, as may be considered to be most
suitable, the gauze being either of uniform fineness or varying in degrees of fineness
as preferred. It will be understood that the plug is ground in its seating after the
part F has been fitted and fixed in position. We may form less or more than the
number of channels indicated in the Drawings. The body of the tap may be made
without the partitions D, D¹, but we prefer the construction indicated.
Having now fully set forth the nature of our Invention and the manner in which
we carry the same into effect, we would have it to be understood in conclusion that
we claim,―
First. The tap, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated herein-
before and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The tap formed with tapering channels, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
And, lastly. The addition to gas tap plugs of wire gauze, substantially as set
forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Carter Ainsworth and Robert Knowles
Roberts, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1879.
Signed and sealed by the said John
C. Ainsworth and Robert Knowles
Roberts in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
JOHN C. AINSWORTH. (LS.)
ROBERT K. ROBERTS. (L.S.)

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