IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING, CONTROLLING OR REGULATING. THE PRESSURE OR FLOW OF PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONINATING GAS, OR OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Key of Glasgow in the County of Lanark North.
Britain Gas Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR GOVERNING, CONTROLLING OR REGULATING. THE PRESSURE OR FLOW OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Key at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1882.
WILLIAM KEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North-Britain, Gas
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING, CONTROLLING, OR
REGULATING THE PRESSURE OR FLOW OF ILLUMINATING GAS, OR OTHER FLUIDS,"
This Invention has special reference to improvements in the construction or
arrangement and combination of the valves and valve seats, and details of
apparatus for governing, controlling, or regulating the pressure or rate of flow
of fluids such as illuminating gas in passing from the gas holders to the delivery
mains, or from stations or districts to street mains or pipes. In different modifi-
cations, the improved valve apparatus is adapted as a station safety gas governor,
an equilibrium gas governor, as a compensator used in conjunction with gas
exhausters or blowers, or simply to regulate the flow of gas, air, or other fluids.
In a modification adapted as a gas governor, the improved valve apparatus is
fitted in combination with the usual vessel or valve chainber, having an inlet and
an outlet pipe, and a web or partition separating them, so that the gas can only
flow through the valve or valve orifices, and having also the usual water tank
fitted above containing a bell or small holder connected to actuate the valve. The
improved valve is made in the form of a cylindrical hollow piston or plunger, open
at both ends, and turned or faced on its outer surface to fit an orifice or valve seat.
T

page_text: formed or fitted in the dividing web or partition of the valve chamber. The valve
is connected by a cross bar to a vertical rod which passes up through a tube
provided with a stuffing box or water lute, and is connected at the upper end to
the bell or small gas holder in the water tank above. A separate tube is fitted
insido the bell or actuating holder and is open at the lower end to the outlet side
of the valve, or to tho outlet pipe, so that the pressure within the bell or actunting
holder, varies with the rate at which the gas is consumed or drawn off, and not
with the pressure in the main gas holders, nor on the supply or inlet side of the
valve. Within the valve chamber and immediately over the valve is fitted a
cylindrical cap or hood, the lower edge of which is slightly conical or formed with
a trumpet mouth, which is scolloped or indented, the indentations being by
preference of inverted V. shape. This cap or hood is of an internal diameter
corresponding to the external diameter of the valve, or to a bead or packing gland
formed round it; and when the valve is raised to the extreme position by the
action of the bell or actuating holder to which it is connected, it fits close within
the hood and entirely cuts off the supply of gas through the valve chamber. In
ordinary circuinstances however, the valve is slightly raised or traversed within
its seat or orifice, so that its upper edge inay merely rise close to or within the
expanded and indented lower edge of the cap or hood, and still allow the gas,
passing from the inlet through the valve to escape by the annular space between
the edges of the valve and hood, or through the scollops or indentations in the
hood. Any slight variation of pressure within the bell or small actuating holder
due to variations in the rate at which the gas is consumed or drawn off from the
valve chamber, causes the valve to be traversed towards or from the indented or
scalloped hood, and the extent of opening or passage left for the flow or supply
of gas is thereby regulated, to correspond with the demand or consumption. The
bell or small actuating holder is provided with adjusting weights as usual.
In a second modification of the improved apparatus the cap or hood over the
valve is extended downwards through the orifice in the dividing web or partition
of the valve chamber, or a cylindrical casing is fitted therein, and forms a
cylindrical seat for the hollow piston valve, which traverses within it. Instead of
the scollops or indentations, conical or triangular or other shaped openings or
orifices are forined in the cylindrical hood or casing at the inlet or outlet side of
the valve chamber, and these openings or orifices are partially covered or uncovered
by the valve as it is actuated by the bell or actuating holder. A bend is formed
at tlie edges or ends of the hollow piston valve to form close fitting bearings in
the inside of the cylindrical shell of the hood or seat, or packing glands or
similar devices may be adopted to form a gas tight joint between the valve and
its: seat.
In another modification, the upper edge of the improved hollow piston valve is
fitted to rise against a plane faced surface formed within the valve chamber of the
apparatus. In this case the flow of the gas is regulated by the extent of annular
opening left between the upper edge of the valve and the flat seat. The flat seat
may be metallic, or it may be fitted with wood, hemp, or other packing to form
a gas-tight joint. Or an annular ring with a conical bearing face may be fitted to
form the seat for the valve which in this case may be correspondingly formed with
a conical upper edge..
·
In a further modification the hollow valve is fitted as an annular ring, to
surround a cylindrical casing or seat having openings or orifices in it, as in the
second modification above described, and is connected by one, two, or more rods
passing through tubes in the bell or actuating holder and connected thereto. The.
joints or bearings between the valve and its seat, inay be formed by turned beads,.
or by any suitable packing glands or rings to form gas-tight joints. When the
openings in the valve casing are on the inlet side in this arrangement, the rods
connecting the valve to the bell or actuating holder, must pass through stufting
boxes or tubes fitted in or through tho web. dividing the inlet from the outlet of.

page_text: the valve chamber; or a single rod connected to the annular valve by a cross bar
passing through slots in the fixed casing may be led up through the centre of the
valve, as in the arrangements already described.
In every case the apparatus can be arranged so that the inlet may form the
outlet by fitting the rods connecting the valve to the actuating holder through
stuffing boxes, or tubes provided with stuffing boxes, or a water lute, or other
close joints, and leading an open tube or tubes from the inside of the actuating
holder to the pipe, which then forms the outlet from the valve chamber.
In another arrangement the tank or water vessel containing the actuating
holder is fitted under the cylindrical valve. The valve is connected by a rod to
the actuating holder below, and is fitted with a rod passing through a stuffing box
or water lute joint on the upper side of the valve chamber or case of the governor,
on which weights may be laid or hung to regulate the flow of the gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Key in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th April
1883.
WILLIAM KEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Nath Britain, Gas
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNINE, CONTROLLING, OR
REGULATING THE PRESSURE OR FLOW OF ILLUMINATING GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS,"
My said Invention has special reference to improvements in the construction or.
arrangement and combination of the valves and valve seats and details of apparatus
for governing, controlling, or regulating the pressure or rate of flow of fluids, such
as illuminating gas, in passing from stations or districts to street mains or pipes.
In different modifications, the improved valve apparatus is adapted as a station,
safety gas governor, an equilibrium gas governor, as a compensator used in con-
junction with gas exhausters or blowers, or simply to regulate the flow of gas, air,
or other fluids.
An essential feature of the Invention is that the regulating valve is made in the
form of a hollow or annular piston or plunger which is open at both ends, so that
no end surface is exposed to the pressure of the gas or fluid passing through the
valve. The open valve is of circular or other cross section, is fitted to a corre-
spondingly formed valve seat which may be internal or external to it, and the
valve is operated, to govern, control, or regulate the rate of flow through it of the
gas or fluid, according to the rate at which the gas or fluid is consumed or
drawn off.
My said Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings in which
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are vertical sections of various arrangements of
gas governors, as constructed and fitted with modifications of my improved
regulating valve and valve apparatus. Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are sections
of details hereinafter referred to.

page_text: •
In the modification of the Invention shown in Figure 1 the improved valve A is
fitted in combination, with the usual vessel or valve chamber B, having an inlet B'
and an outlet pipe B, and a web or partition B³ separating them, so that the gas
can only flow through the valve A or valve orifices, and having also the usual
water tank C fitted above, containing a bell or small holder D connected to actuate 5
the valve A. The improved valve A is made in the form of a cylindrical hollow
piston or plunger open at both ends; and turned or faced on its outer surface to fit
freely within an orifice or valve seat b formed or fitted on the dividing web or
partition B of the valve chamber B. The valve A is connected by a cross bar A'
to a vertical rod A which passes up through a tube E, which may be provided
with a stuffing box e or water lute, and is connected at the upper end to the boll or
small gas holder D in the water tank C above. A separate tube F is fitted inside
the bell or actuating holder D, and is open at the lower end to the outlet side of
the valve, or to the outlet pipe B2, so that the pressure within the bell or actuating
holder, varies with the rate at which the gas is consumed or drawn off and not
with the pressure in the main gas holder, nor with that on the supply or inlet
side of the valve. Within the valve chamber B, and immediately over the valve A
is fitted a cylindrical cap or hood G, the lower edge of which is slightly conical or
formed with a trumpet mouth G, which is scolloped or indented, the indentations g
being by preference of inverted V shaped. This cap or hood G is of an internal
diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the valve A, or to a bead or
packing gland formed round it; and when the valve A is raised to the extreme
position by the action of the bell. or actuating holder D to which it is connected, it
fits close within the hood G and entirely cuts off the supply of gas through the
valve chamber B: In ordinary circumstances however, the valve A is only slightly
raised or traversed within its seat or orifice b, so that the upper edge may merely
riso close to or within the expanded and indented lower edge G' of the cap or
hood G, and still allow the gas, passing from the inlet B' through the valve A to
escape by the annular space between the edges of the valve A and hood C, or
through the scollops or indentations g of the hood. The valve in its raised position
is shown by the dotted lines in figure 1. Any slight variation of pressure within
the bell or small actuating holder D, due to variations in the rate at which the gas
is consumed or drawn off from the valve chamber B, causes the valve A to be
traversed towards or from the indented or scolloped hood G; and the extent of
opening or passage left for the flow or supply of gas is thereby regulated to
correspond with thic demand or consumption. The bell or small actuating holder D
is provided with the usual adjusting weights H, which may be taken off or added
to as may be required to suit the mean pressure it is desired to maintain in the
consumer's mains.
In a second modification of the improved apparatus, illustrated by figures 2, 3
and 4, the cap or hood Govor the valve A is extended downwards through the
dividing web or partition B³ of the valve chamber B, or a cylindrical casing G is
fitted therein and forms a cylindrical seat for the hollow piston valve A which
traverses within it. Instead of the scollops or indentations, conical or triangular or
other shaped openings or orifices g are formed in the cylindrical casing G at the
inlet or outlet side of the valvo chamber B, and these openings or orifices are
partially covered or uncovered by the valve as it is raised or lowered by the bell or
actuating holder D. A bead a is formed at the edges or ends of the hollow piston
valve A to form close or nearly close fitting bearings in the inside of the cylindrical
shell G of the casing or valve seat. Or packing glands or similar devices may be
adopted to form a gas-tight joint between the valve and its seat.
In figure 3 the valve A is shown partially raised to diminish the supply of gas
passing through the orifices g. In this case the pressure on the bell or actuating
holder D, instead of being obtained by weights, is produced by adding or with-
drawing water from a tank or vessel D₁ formed over the actuating holder D. In
ench case the weight of the valve A and connecting parts is balanced by forining
the actuating holder with an air-tight floating chamber or chambers Dat or near

page_text: the lower end. In figure 4, the valve casing G. is carried down from the dividing.
web B³ into the inlet side of the chamber B.
.3
In the modification shown in figure 5 (which differs only slightly from that
represented in figure 1) the improved hollow piston valve A is fitted to rise against
a plane, faced surface G2, formed within the valve chamber B of the apparatus.
In this case the flow of the gas is regulated by the extent of annular opening left
between the upper edge a¹ of the valve A and the flat seat G². The flat seat.G³
may be metallic, or it may be fitted with wood, hemp, or other packing, to form
a.gas-tight joint. Or an annular ring with a conical bearing face G³ may be fitted
to form the seat for the valve A, which in this case may be correspondingly formed
with a conical upper edge a', as indicated in figure 6
In a further modification, shown in figures 7 and 8, the hollow valve A is fitted
as an annular ring to surround a cylindrical casing or seat G, having openings or.
orifices g in it for the passage of the gas, and the valve is connected by one, two,
or more rods A passing, through tubes E in the bell or actuating holder D and
connected thereto. The joints or bearings between the valve A and its seat G, may
be formed by turned beads a as shown, or by any suitable packing glands or rings
to form gas tight joints. When the openings g in the valve casing G are on the
lower side of the web B³ as in figure 8, the rods A³ connecting the valve A to the
bell or actuating holder D, should pass through stuffing boxes or tubes E fitted in
or through the web Bª dividing the inlet. B' from the outlet B² of the valve
chamber, such tubes opening to the outlet B²; or a single rod connected to the
annular valve A, by a cross bar A¹ passing through slots g in the fixed casing G,
may be led up through the centre of the valve A as indicated in figure 9.
In all the modifications illustrated, the apparatus can be: 'arranged so that the
inlet may form the outlet by fitting the rods A³, connecting the valve A, to the
actuating holder D, through stuffing boxes, or tubes provided with stuffing boxes,
or a water lute, or other close joints, and leading an open tube or tubes (as F1 in
figure 5) from the inside of the actuating holder D to the pipe B2, which then
forms the outlet from the valve chamber B.
In an arrangement not shown in the Drawings, the tank or water vessel
containing the actuating holder D is fitted under the cylindrical valve A. The
valve A is connected by a rod to the actuating holder below, and is fitted with
a rod passing through a stuffing box or water lute joint on the upper side of the
valve chamber or case of the governor, on which weights may be laid or hung to
regulate the flow of the gas.
The valve A is made to fit loosely within or over its seat or casing G, so that
it may be freely raised or lowered by variations of pressure of the gas within the
float or actuating holder D. A close fitting joint between the valve and its casing
is not required, and in general it is sufficient to form the valve of a comparatively
rough casting, with a bead or beads on its ends which may be turned to fit the
valve seat. But when a close fitting joint is considered desirable, the valve A may
be turned, and may fit a turned bead formed on or fitted to the seat or casing G.
Or packing glands I may be fitted to the ends of the valve A as indicated in
figure 10, or to the valve casing G to fit on the valve A as indicated in figures
11 and 12; or a separate bead ring a may be fitted to the valve A as indicated in
figure 13.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my Invention is ;-
First. The arrangement or combination of parts of apparatus for governing,
controlling, or regulating the pressure or flow of illuminating gas or other fluids,
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. A gas governor consisting essentially of a valve chamber with inlet
and outlet thereto, an open annular valve fitted therein and adapted to a seat
or casing in such chamber, and a bell or holder actuating the valve, substantially
as herein described and illustrated.
Third. In a gas governor, the open annular valve (A) in combination with

page_text: a seat or casing (C) internal or external to it substantially as herein described
and 'illustrated.
Fourth. As means for regulating the pressure or flow of illuminating gas or
other fluids, the annular valve or hollow piston A open at both ends, adapted to
a seat or casing and operated by a bell or actuating holder, substantially na herein
described and illustrated.
Fifth. In a gas governor, the open annular valve A adapted internally or
externally to a seat or casing G, provided with openings g which are partially or
entirely covered or uncovered by the motion of the valvo to regulate the flow of
the gas, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Sixth. In a gas governor, the open annular valve fitted in a web or partition
dividing the inlet from the outlet, and adapted to close against a seat, substantially
as herein described and illustrated..
In Witness Whereof, I, the said William Key, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER O.E., Fel. Inst, P.A.
Of W. R. M. Thomson & C°
Patent Agents
Glasgow.
WILLIAM KEY. (LS)