IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS REGULATORS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of 10, Salisbury Street, Adelphi,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS REGULATORS."
A communication.
Sealed the 16th May 1856, and dated the 19th November 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
November 1855..
I, WILLIAM SMITH, of 10, Salisbury Street, Adelphi, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
REGULATORS, (a communication from a foreigner residing abroad,) to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist in simplyfying the arrangements of the parts, and
reducing the liability to leakage or derangement from continuous use, and
also affording greater facilities for examination, cleaning, and adjustment of
the internal parts, which are liable to become fouled by the deposit of the
impurities contained in the gas.
By my improvements I also secure increased sensitiveness in the action of
the regulating parts, to compensate for the variations of pressure of gas at the
service pipe, or for the variations in the quantity consumed.

page_text: I have hereunto annexed a Drawing, shewing an elevation and a plan, both
in section, of the general arrangements of a gas regulator made according to
my Invention; the parts and their uses will be readily understood. The gas
being admitted from the service pipe by the inlet pipe or nose piece, it passes
into the chamber, and through an opening above the small inverted cup or
floated valve, and pressing on the under side of the domed regulating chamber,
which is also floated in an annular grove or space filled with mercury, and
being connected by an adjustable rod with the small inverted cup or floated
valve before referred to; where the pressure of the gas at the inlet side exceeds
what is desirable for its being consumed at, and is disproportioned to the size
and number of burners, then the domed regulating chamber is raised out of
the mercury contained in the annular space for sealing or luteing the edge or
rim of such floated chamber, and as it rises it carries up with it the small
inverted cup or closed cylinder, the upper edge or rim of which has been fitted
against or into a seating above it, so that when, if ever, this inverted cup or
closed cylinder is raised as high as it can be raised, it would entirely cut off the
supply of gas to the burners, but this is made capable of adjustment in relation
to the variable effect of the range or variation of pressure, and the quantity of
gas to be consumed.
The body of the regulator is made in iron, of one piece of cord casting; the
domed cover is fitted in and fastened by screws or otherwise; the two annular
spaces are charged with mercury, and should have a channel of communication
between them. The valve sealing over the small inverted cup or closed cylinder
is fitted on and secured in its place, and has within the ring of tho sealing
openings for the gas to pass into the larger domed regulating vessel, and there
is also a centre hole for the spindle or rod to work loosely in, and be guided
thereby, and two set nuts working in the screwed upper end of the rod allows
of the two vessels being adjusted with each other.
The Drawing shews the regulator out of action, there being no pressure to
raise the larger and smaller floating vessels. Instead of the regulating cylin-
ders or inverted cups to vessels being made of two or more pieces of sheet
iron soldered or rivetted together, and unprotected against corrosion, and
liable to leakage and fouling, I make the regulating vessels from one piece or
disc of sheet metal, which is easily workable, and is not acted upon by the
mercury in which it is floated, or by the impurities contained in the gas; and
if sheet iron be used, I coat it thinly with a vitrious or other glazing after it
is completed, so as to protect it from oxydation. And I prepare these hollow
articles by stamping or pressing up in powerful presses in the manner of
making thimbles, knobs, capsules, and other such articles.

page_text: I do not, however, confine myself to the precise shape or configuration of
the several parts shewn in the Drawing, but have described and set forth
herein the nature of my improvements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th May 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SMITH, of 10, Salisbury Street, Adelphi, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Smith, Her special licence that I, the said William
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS REGULATORS, (a communication,) upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Smith, my executors or administrators, 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 six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Smith, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention consists in a novel and peculiar construction and arrangement
of apparatus, and method of combining and operating the parts thereof, for.
regulating and controlling the pressure at which gas or other fluids are delivered
through supply pipes, and more particularly the pressure at which gas in
general use is supplied to the burners, whereby the pressure at which it is

page_text: consumed, and consequently its rate of combustion, is more constantly and
permanently equalized and maintained at an uniform point, the regulation
being exclusively and entirely effected by the action of the gas that has passed
the regulating point, and not sensible to or affected by the higher variations of
pressure in the mains.
This Invention is capable of being applied to other fluids as well as gas, but
as its most useful application at present is in connection with the ordinary gas
supplied to the public, it is specially intended for that purpose, and is therefore
denominated a gas regulator. It performs for the consumer that which he
otherwise is only able imperfectly to accomplish by continually altering his gas
taps.
That gas is most economically used when delivered at the burners at an
uniform low pressure, considerably lower than the average pressure in the
mains, has become a well-established fact, while the sanitary benefit resulting
is also important.
In the various ingenious devices that have heretofore been invented to accom-
plish this purpose, serious defects have been found to exist, or the means used
to remedy those defects and have caused the apparatus to be more complicated.
As for instance, in those generally worked on the principal of a hooded disc, or
of a diaphragm yielding to the pressure of the gas, and by its action moving
the valve, and thus closing or opening the valve aperture, the regulation has
been defective by reason of the valve being affected by the pressure in the
main as well as by that in the branch or service pipes. And in those later
ones, in which a compensating chamber and an additional disc is connected with
the valve, in order to balance this pressure from the main upon it, and small
tubes introduced to communicate between the chambers under the moveable
gasometer dises and the branch pipes, the apparatus is greatly complicated
thereby. Again, in all the foregoing the arrangement has necessitated the
placing of the valves seats and valve gear at the bottom or lower part of the
regulator, whereby the water constantly accumulating in the gas pipes, and
too frequently neglected to be drawni off, first reaches and affects the operation
of these parts by corroding and fouling them, besides for the time being
drowning and obstructing them by its presence. And again, in most places
the gas manufactured for the public holds in suspension so much tar and
resinous matter as to deposit in longer or shorter periods of time a coating of
these substances upon the valves and valve seats, of sufficient thickness and
hardness to throw the regulators quite out of action, as these have heretofore
been constructed. It has then become necessary to detach and take them

page_text: down to repair, and properly remedy this difficulty, making it necessary, after
disconnecting them and removing this impediment, to again attach them to the
piping, with nearly as much labor as at first.
By the present Invention these difficulties and defects are avoided, and the
balancing or compensating apparatus and attendant complications dispensed
with, while greater sensitiveness in the action of the regulators is secured, and
its construction and operation greatly simplified, its liability to leakage or
derangement from long continued use reduced, with much greater facility for
examination, cleansing, and adjustment when permanently attached, for the
purposes of removing the impurities deposited by the gas, and its adaptation
to every position of piping largely increased, at the same time the apparatus is
reduced to smaller compass.
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved construction and arrangement
of the body of the regulator, having the valve, valve seat, and valve gear placed
in the top or upper part of the apparatus, and comprised within the space of
the regulating gas-holder disc, whereby those parts will not be reached by
water accumulated until after the latter shall have filled the outlet and pipes,
and risen so far as to extinguish the light, and entirely close the passage of the
gas, while ready and facile access is obtained to all the operating parts by
removing the cover without disturbing the attachment of the regulator, and
all those portions are condensed into the smallest possible space, and also to
such adaptations of the regulator as render it applicable to every direction and
position of service and supply piping.
Secondly, to the peculiar construction, application, and employment of a
luted, cylindrical, or barrel-shaped vessel or floated valve for increasing or
diminishing, proportionately to the degree of pressure of the gas, the aperture
for the passage of the gas at the point of regulation, and so contrived and
operated as to be entirely insensible to the action or pressure of the gas in the
main, which pressure is equally distributed upon the outer surface or circum-
ference of the said cylindrical or barrel-shaped valve, which latter is therefore
in constant equipoise as regards such pressure. And also to another arrange-
ment of a somewhat similar valve, dispensing with a lute, but in connection
with a peculiar configuration of parts, that causes the current of gas to divide
itself, and flow around and over the outer surface or circumference of such
valve, and to operate on it with like effect as that first described.
Thirdly, to protecting the cylinders and the regulating gas-holding dise
against the effect of the oxydation of the mercury, by coating that part of the
vessel that dip into the lute with a vitreous or other similar glazing, or a thin
coat of platinum or aluminium.

page_text: In order that these improvements may be more perfectly explained, I have
hereunto annexed two Sheets of Drawings, in which the same letters of
reference on the several Figures refer to similar parts of the apparatus; they
represent the apparatus in full size for one inch iron service and supply piping,
with the exception of Figure 12, which represents the full size for a three
quarter inch iron service pipe.
Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of the apparatus.
2
"
"
وو
وو
"
دو
3
a plan of Fig. 1, the cover being removed, and one half
of the domed gasometer or regulating chamber removed.
an external view of the complete apparatus, being a side
view of Fig. 1.
4 is a plan of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, taken on the line C, D.
4º
"2
33
a plan of the top picce of the receiving chamber, in which top
piece is formed the valve seat.
gas;
5 a top view of the small cylindrical luted vessel or barrel valve.
The body of the regulator R may be made of any suitable material, but it is
preferred of iron, made in one piece of cored casting. It is arranged in
circular or concentive divisions, which furnish an outer A, and an inner
channel or trough B for a mercury or other suitable fluid lute. The outer
channel or trough of mercury receives the rim of the regulating gas-holder
disc G; the inner, the lower rim of the small cylindrical vessel, or floated
barrel valve V, which is attached by the spindle S to the gas holder G, and
actuated by the latter as it rises or falls with the varying pressure of the
the central piece that contains the annular trough for the inner lute is sup-
ported in its place by brackets or arms placed across the space C, connecting
it with the next outward annular partition, and one of the arms extending quite
across the next outer space H, by being bored, affords a lateral pipe or channel a
for the mercury to flow between the inner and outward lute. The remaining
divisions furnish the annular space or channel way C for the passage of the
inlet current of gas, which has been admitted by the inlet I, and which passing
up through the aperture D, formed by the valve seat in the top picce E, into
the regulating chamber K, passes thence down the annular channel way H,
and self-regulated in the amount of pressure by its action upon the disc G,
passes out through the outlet O in the centre piece within the circumference
of the inner late channel. There is yet one more central tubular channel or
space N, which receives the lower end of the spindle S, and in connection with
a hole n in the guide g, that forms part of the top piece E, serves to guide and
keep the spindle perpendicular, and through it the gas-holding disc G steadily
in proper position; by means of a screw thread in the spindle S at the point of

page_text: attachment to the valve V, and two screw nuts, by which the spindle is attached
to the gas holder G, the lift of the valve may be shortened, as desired. Tho
top piece E is turned and ground to fit tightly into the top of the receiving
chamber and passage C, and is readily adjusted in or removed from its place;
across its top part, and of one piece with itself, is raised a guide piece or bar g,
having a hole n in its centre to guide the spindle, as before described. The
outer ends of the guide piece or raised bar project beyond the outer rim of the
top piece E, and of the annular chamber C, for the purpose, when the disc G is
removed, of quickly lifting the top piece off, and with it the valve, valve seat,
and entire valvo gear are thus easily and immediately brought under examina-
tion, to be cleansed of any impurities deposited by the gas; or when from any
motive it is desired to examine or inspect those parts of the apparatus which can
again be as quickly and easily returned to and secured in their place without
disturbance otherwise to the regulator, its mercury lute, or its attachment.
The regulator is provided with an overflow channel b, to prevent the mercury
trough being filled too full by careless or unpractised hands, and with a tap for
drawing off the mercury or other fluid used for a lute. It is further provided
with a water tap d for drawing off the accumulation of water deposited by the
gas in the pipes, and with air holes e in the lid, to allow unimpeded motion to
the gas-holder disc in rising and falling with the varying pressure of the gas
beneath. In the top view, Fig. 5, of the cylindrical vessel V, are represented
holes pierced through the same, in order to allow free communication between
the space beneath, and between it and the surface of the mercury and the
outer space without the cylinder, and an equality of pressure on both the inner
and outer side. Over all is put the lid L, which is secured to the body of the
regulator by screws and screw locks h at the edges.
Fig. 6 represents an arrangement of regulator with the spindle cylinder and
disc removed, adapted for a vertical inlet pipe, having the inlet I at the bottom,
and two outlets O, as shewn in Fig. 6, or it may have four, as represented in
Fig. 7; Fig. 7 is a plan of Fig. 6.
Fig. 9 represents an arrangement of regulator for vertical pipe with ascend-
ing current, with centre lute and post removed, not being necessary to this
explanation. The inlet I, and outlet O, and the arrows, shew the direction of
the current of gas.
Fig. 10 represents a top view of same, with the lid and gas-holder disc
removed, but shew the top piece E in its place, the valve V, and the spindle S
in place, as seen through the aperture (D) in the top piece E, and the hole n
in the guide g.
Fig. 13, another arrangement of the same. for a. vertical pipe, with a

page_text: descending current of gas. The inlet I, and the outlet O, and the arrows,
shew the direction of the current.
Fig. 14, another arrangement for the same purpose, being the reverse in
action of that represented in Fig. 6. I, I, the two inlets, and O, the outlet,
and the arrows, shew the direction of the current.
Fig. 12, an elevation, in section, showing the form and arrangement of a
cylinder or barrel valve for dispensing with an inner or second lute. This
valve has no holder, as in the other represented in Fig. 5, but is solid through-
out, of one piece with the spindle. By the peculiar shape and arrangement of
the bottom part, bearing the rim in which the valve rests, the current of gas
is caused to divide itself, and pass around and over the circumference of the
outer surface of the cylindrical portion of this valve, causing it to operate with
like effect to that before herein described.
The Drawings shew the regulator out of action, as being without any pressure
to raise the large and smaller floated vessels.
The regulating gas-holder discs and cylindrical vessels, when made with
scams or joints, or of two or more pieces of sheet iron, riveted or fastened
together, and unprotected against corrosion, are liable to leak, and never truly
balanced, and become fouled; these are therefore made from one piece or disc
of sheet metal, and can be thus prepared by stamping up in powerful presses
in the manner used for making knobs, thimbles, capsules, and similar shaped
articles from sheet metal; and as the mercury through constant agitation
frequently oxydises, so as to adhere to the rims of the metallic discs and
increase their weight, I protect them against this by coating thinly the part
that dips into the mercury with a vitreous or other similar glazing, if sheet
iron be used. Or indeed these vessels may be made by stamping up out of
thin brass and platinizing the surface; or what is found to bo more suitable,
lighter, and less costly, to coat tho surfaces with aluminium, by which or either
of which processes they will be effectually protected against the effect of the
mercury in every way.
The entire regulator when completed is colored with red lead, for the purpose
of more quickly detecting the spot of any leak of the gas, and when finished
with an enamel polish it is ready to be applied.
Having thus described and explained the construction and arrangement of
the several parts of the apparatus, I proceed to describe its operation, pre-
mising that the usual technical phraseology is used, whereby the term "main"
is now used to signify that portion of the pipe that brings the gas to the point
or place of regulation, and the terms "branch" or "service pipe" to signify
that portion that conveys the gas from and beyond the regulator.

page_text: The gas being admitted from the main by the inlet I, passes into the receiving
chamber and annular passage C, within the circle of which is placed the cylin-
drical inverted cup or barrel valve V, so that the current of gas passes over its
upper rim, and between it and the circular opening D, and through the latter
into the domed regulating chamber K, underneath the dome G, which is also
floated in an annular trough of mercury, and sensitive to the slightest pulsa-
tion or inflation of pressure of the gas within it, rising and falling in its lute
in correspondence with the increase or diminution of pressure. Through its
connection by the spindle S to the cylindrical fluted vessel V before referred
to, it lifts the latter in rising up towards the conical sides of the aperture D,
which are nicely ground and accurately fitted to the upper rim of the cylinder,.
and forms the valve seat. The cylinder V thus diminishes or cuts off the flow
of the gas through the aperture proportionably to the requisite force and
quantity of the gas being consumed. Tho lift of the domed chamber G being
limited by the contact of the valve and valve seats, and when the pressure falls
below that of its adjustment, it falls down until its lower rim rests upon the
bottom of the mercury trough upon the top of the dome G. Washers or flat
rings of lead, of suitable shape, may be placed, as represented by dotted outlines.
m in Fig. 1, by which the degree of pressure at which the apparatus is to work.
may be adjusted.
It will thus be seen that the pressure of gas in the main, to whatever
height or degree it may vary or range above the point of adjustment at the
regulator, cannot possibly affect the regulation, because the cylindrical vessel V
by its peculiar construction and arrangement is totally insensible to such
pressure, which bears upon its outer surface concentrically in such manner as
to neutralize or counterpoise itself so far as any influence upon this vesse!
affecting its motion is concerned; and because the regulating chamber can
only be reached or operated by the gas that has passed beyond the valvular
vessel V, and is only sensitive to the pressure of the gas in the branch pipes,
and of that within the chamber itself, so that neither the chamber nor the
valve aro influenced or operated in any degree by the pressure of the gas in
the main; and thus the great desideratum in a perfect regulation is attained,
while the complications of compensating chambers, discs, and weights, of levers,
fulerunis, and jointed rods, balance weights, supports, and lifts, are dispensed
with; close fitting movements and hinges liable to become clogged with the
first deposited impurities of the gas avoided; the liability of the long slender
spindles of previously patented regulators to bend, and thus derange the valves
escaped from; the greater amount of regulating surface, and greater spacious-
ness of the communicating channels, renders the action quicker and more

page_text: sensitive, while the continuous permanent action and efficiency of the entire
apparatus are better secured and provided for.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the instrument is once
adjusted to a given pressure, the gas issuing from the burners will never
exceed that pressure, without respect to the higher pressure in the mains or
to the number of burners lighted or extinguished.
Having now fully described this Invention, I wish it to be understood that
I am aware of the construction and the variations in the arrangement of the
parts of gas regulators, as already patented and in public use; and I do not,
however, confine myself to the precise shape or configuration of the various
parts shewn in accompanying Drawings; but I claim,―
First, the construction and arrangement of the parts, and the combination
of the same; as described herein and.shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the peculiar construction, application, and employment of a cylin-
drical or barrel valve, and the parts immediately connected therewith, as
described and shewn herein.
.. Lastly, protecting the parts exposed to the action of the mercury against
the effects of the same, by coating the same with vitreous or other glazing,
or with a thin coating of platina or aluminium, substantially as described..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
JAMES E. HALL.
WILLIAM SMITH, C. E. (L.8.)