Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 4th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Nov., 1887
I, EDWARD CAMPBELL HERBERT of 32 Eccleston Street in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for automatically closing a gas pipe when the gas
ceases to flow and for subsequently preventing the flow of gas when the same again
exerts pressure in the pipe. The apparatus is intended to be applied to each gas
pipe at or near to the burner and it has for its purpose to automatically close the
respective pipe when the gas is turned off at the main, and, when the gas is again
turned on at the main, to restrain it from issuing through said pipe until the
apparatus is released by hand when the respective burner is to be again lighted-
By this means the escape of gas through open cocks when the gas is turned on at
the main is entirely obviated.
My invention consists in arranging in the gas pipe a suitable valve adapted when
released to be raised by the pressure of gas and so permit the gas to pass, and when
the said pressure ceases, to fall onto its seat, means being also arranged for engaging
said valve, when closed and preventing it from subsequently rising until released by
hand. For this purpose I prefer to arrange between the pipe and the burner,
a chamber in which the valve and necessary mechanism is arranged-The valve may
be a disc of leather, suitably stiffened or a disc of metal, having a suitable packing
on its rim to ensure a gas-tight closing on its seat in the chamber. This valve
I prefer to mount on a vertical rod guided centrally in the chamber a spring may
also assist in the depression of the valve-Any suitable means may be employed to
engage the valve and hold it in its lowest position but I prefer to arrange on the
guiding rod of the valve a suitably placed recess or catch which when the valve moves
downwards shall impinge on a spring catch and arrive below the latter, so that the
said catch exactly falls into the recess on the rod when the valve is closed, a small pin
may be connected to the said spring catch by means of which it may be withdrawn
from engagement with the valve when the gas is again turned on and the burner is to
be lighted. Instead of one single catch on the rod I may arrange the latter as a
ratchet-bar with teeth of suitable pitch and I may also by simple means such as a

page_text: screw thread, cause the valve to be adjustable with reference to the said catch or
recess, or corresponding tooth on the ratchet bar. I may also curve down the edges
of the valve or arrange a flexible collar on the latter, and also arrange in the chamber
a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical rim, so that the collar of the valve may when
in its lowest position arrive within the said rim the subsequent pressure of gas will
then press the collar outward onto said rim and ensure a tight closing in spite of any
slight upward movement of the valve which may occur through the spring catch or
the valve rod being not exactly adjusted.
HERBERT & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.
An Improved Automatic Cut-off for Gas and other Fluids.
I, EDWARD CAMPBELL HERBERT, of 32 Eccleston Street in the County of Middlesex, 1
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—―
This invention relates to means for automatically closing a gas pipe when the gas
ceases to flow and for subsequently preventing the flow of gas when the same again
exerts pressure in the pipe. The apparatus is intended to be applied to each gas pipe
at or near to the burner and it has for its purpose to automatically close the respective
pipe when the gas is turned off at the main and, when the gas is again turned on at
the main, to restrain it from issuing through said pipe until the apparatus is released
by hand when the respective burner is to be again lighted. By this means the
escape of gas through open cocks when the gas is turned on at the main is entirely
obviated.
My invention consists in arranging in the gas pipe a suitable valve adapted when
released to be raised by the pressure of gas and so permit the gas to pass, and when
the said pressure ceases, to fall onto its seat, means being also arranged for engaging
said valve, when closed and preventing it from: subsequently rising until released by
hand.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved cut off. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section
on line A B showing more clearly the mechanism for retaining the valve in its closed

page_text: Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a part of the cut off upon line CD Fig. 2, showing
the retaining finger with valve closed. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the finger
catch and valve open.
E is a chamber formed or enclosed by the two parts F G the rim of the one being
capable of being screwed down over the rim of the other (Fig. 1)-the rim H of the
part G and the set off J of the part F form clamping surfaces for holding between
them the rim of the plate or diaphragm K-the part G communicates with the main
gas supply at a, the part F with the burner or other device to which gas is to be
supplied, at b.
Through a suitable perforation in the diaphragm K passes the tube L, the same
being capable of sliding (within certain limits) loosely in said perforation of the
diaphragm.
To prevent gas from passing from the lower to the upper part of the chamber E
through the space between the aforesaid tube L and the diaphragm K, the following
device is employed which does net interfere with the movement of the tube L. This
device consists of a flexible impervious diaphragm M hermetically connected at its
outer edge to the diaphragm K and similarly connected at its inner edge to the
tube L at a short distance from the diaphragm. The tube is screw threaded for a
portion of its length from its lower termination and on said screw threaded part is
screwed a disc N, the diaphragm M being placed about the tube L below the aforesaid
disc N, and a second disc being screwed tightly down thereon. The outer edge of
the diaphragm M is secured to the diaphragmn K by a ring I placed under the edge of
the flexible diaphragın, and fastened down by screw to the diaphragın K. The
flexible diaphragm may be of thin rubber gutta-percha or other convenient material.
The limit of downward displacement of the tube L in the diaphragm K is formed by
the annular flange or set off It formed about the tube L as shown. Axially through
the tube L passes a pin S guided in or through cross strutts T in the tube, this pin
carries fixed to it below, the disc U adapted to close the mouth of the tube L. The
spring Vabutting with its lower end on the cross strutt or bar T and fixed at the
upper end with regard to the pin S, serves to hold the tube L with slight pressure
against the disc U.
The pressure of the spring V is so adjusted to be insufficient to depress the tube L
against the upward force exerted thereon by the pressure of the gas on the under side
of the diaphragm M. Therefore to hold down the tube La suitable device is employed
which may be released by hand when required. W is a cylinder having two arms X Y
radially extending therefrom, this cylinder is secured to the diaphragm K by the
screw pin Z about which it is revolvable, the arm X extends over the flange R of the
tube L, and is held normally thereover by a spring finger e secured by screw d to
the diaphragm K. The finger X is shaped as shown in Fig. 3 or otherwise so that
after deflection from off the flange R, it does not prevent the rising of the tube, and
cannot return under said flange. The flange may at this part be bevelled as desired
to afford an inclined plane for the sliding of the nose of the arm X-e is a pin abutting
upon the arm Y and passing through the wall Fand terminating in a button or head f
is a collar on said pin, and a spring pressing against said collar to return the
pin e after inward pressure on the latter has released the flange R by deflecting the
arm X.
In the chamber F is the set screw forming an abutment against upward movement
of the pin S--this screw is preferably set at a slight distance from the upper end of the
pin S to permit a slight upward movement of said pin, since when pressure is exercised
in the lower part of the chamber E, the tube L is slightly raised until the flange R
abuts firmly against the arm X and the disc M must be permitted to move up this
amount in order to stili operate the closing of the tube L. When however the
flange R is released from the restraining influence of the arm X, the pressure of the
gas on the diaphragm M raises the tube L, while the set screw k prevents further
upward passage of the pin S therefore of the disc M. The upper end of the tube L is
preferably conically bevelled and a cone is fixed on the pin S at a suitable distance
from the mouth of the tube L, this cone acts as a regulator, since the greater the

page_text: pressure of gas and therefore the velocity of delivery thereof, the greater the upward
movement of the tube L, and the greater the reduction of passage way between
the tube and the cone l.
When the pressure of gas ceases the tube L falls and the flange R thereof arrives
below the arm X which is pressed thercover by the spring e aforesaid.
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:
In a gas cut-off.
1. The combination of a valve adapted to be opened by fluid pressure and to be
closed by cessation of said pressure, with mechanism for automatically locking said
valve in its closed position and mechanism for releasing by hand the valve from
the locking mechanism aforesaid for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of a valve adapted to be opened by fluid pressure, a spring
for returning said valve after cessation of said pressure, an arm X adapted to lock
said valve in its closed position a spring adapted to press said arm X for the locking
of said valve, and a pin e adapted to be pressed by hand to withdraw said arın X for
the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a chamber, of a valve adapted to be moved therein by fluid
pressure, a cap adapted to cover said valve, a spring adapted to press the cap upon
the valve and an adjustable abutment in said frame, adapted to withhold the cap from
the valve during a part of the travel of the latter for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination of a chamber E, a diaphragm K in said chamber, tube L sliding
loosely in a perforation in said diaphragm, flexible diaphragm M connected tightly to
said tube and to said diaphragm K, disc U adapted to close said tube and spring V
adapted to press said tube and disc in contact for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of a chamber E diaphragm K in said chamber; tube L having
cross strutts T diaphragmn M, rings N, O and P for securing said diaphragm M,
pin S carrying disc U and cone 7; and spring V substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
6. The combination with rod S, of set screw substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
7. The combination with arm X and tube L, of a flange R on said tube, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of October 1887.