Improvements in Gas-regulators.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas-regulators.
I, MICHAEL O'GORMAN, Mechanic a citizen of the United States residing at
No. 45 Ege Avenue, in Jersey City, County of Hudson, and State of New Jersey,
U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention relates to that class of apparatus in which the variable pressure
in a gas distribution system is compensated or regulated by means of a counter-
poised piston, to which are connected valves, arranged to rise and fall in a fluid
seal, to regulate the amount of gas delivered to the service-pipe.
The object of my invention is to secure a simple, and efficient apparatus in
which a valve or valves in the regulator are closed by the gas-pressure when no
burners are in use, and which automatically, by the variations in volume of gas in
the pressure-chamber, caused by the use of a greater or less number of burners,
opens and closes sufficiently to allow the requisite amount of gas to flow to the
burners without waste.
A further object of my invention is to adjust the apparatus to vary the relation
of the counter-poise and the valve or valves, and also to indicate the amount of
gas being consumed at any specified time. Improved apparatus for obtaining these
results will be hereinafter fully described, and the subject-matter deemed novel set
forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical, central section through my apparatus, on the line 1-1 of
Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 is a vertical, central section, taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a transverse section, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the piston and valve carried thereby;
Fig. 5 is a central section of the piston, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views of a modified construction ;
Fig. 9 is a detail view of the balanced valve and its connections.
A gas-receiving chamber.a, formed in a casting A, is provided with an inlet
opening a', adapted to connect with a gas-main and an outlet a', which connects
with a pressure-chamber b, formed in a casting B. A circular flange a³, is formed
on the walls of the receiving-chamber a, and projects downwardly therefrom to
form the side walls of the valve-chamber at, the bottom of which is closed by the
coupling C, which is provided with a flange c, encircling the flange a³. This
coupling is formed with a cylindrical extension c¹, projecting into the valve-
chamber a', and opening into it above the level of the fluid, therein. This opening
also connects with a pipe or passage c³, which extends below the valve-chamber and
upwardly, connecting with a pipe or passage a, leading into the pressure-chamber b,
and opening into it above the level of the fluid y. The coupling is provided with
a recess o³, between the pipe c³, and a lateral offset c', to receive the downwardly-
projecting flange a³, of the casting A. This recess forms a continuation of the
valve-chamber a, and the fluid in the valve-chamber also enters the recess. In
this way a gas-tight connection is made between the coupling C, and the casting A,
and there is no necessity for particularly tight joints or packing.
A passage, extends from the recess, to the top of the offset c. The top of
the passage is in line with the fluid level in the valve-chamber. That is to say,
when the mercury has been made to fill the valve-chamber to the desired height,
it rises to the top of the opening e, and it is then known that sufficient mercury
has been supplied. The opening should be tightly closed by a plug or screw co.

page_text: The pressure-chamber is provided with a port b', adapted to be connected with a
gas-service pipe. The casting B, which forms the casing of the pressure-chamber,
rests at its lower edge on the top of the casting A, inside the flange a", thereof,
and its top wall is provided with an opening &, through which extends a rod D,
carrying the piston and valves hereinafter referred to. Around the opening 6, is
a trough E, containing a fluid such as mercury to form a gas-tight seal. A fluid
such as mercury fills the lower part of the pressure-chamber b, being supplied
thereto through an opening 6, formed in a lateral offset 64, on the casting A. The
upper end of this opening is on a level with the fluid y, in the chamber b, and it
can readily be determined when the desired level is reached. The arrangement is
such that the level of the mercury in the pressure-chamber corresponds with that
of the mercury in the valve-chamber a', for a purpose hereinafter designated.
The rod D, carries within the pressure-chamber b, an annular piston F, and a
cup-shaped valve G. The annular piston has two downwardly-projecting annular
flanges, which, at their lower ends, surround two upwardly-projecting displacement
flanges a', between which is formed an annular chamber provided with an air-outlet
opening a. The flanges f, are immersed at their lower ends in the fluid seal.
The displacement flanges divide the pressure-chamber into two mercury-containing
troughs V and V. The inner trough V, is connected with the outer one V', by
a channel v, formed by drilling a hole through a solid portion r', of the casing.
The opening 2, in the outer casing for the drilling tool is closed by a screw-plug 2.
The cup-shaped valve G, to which the annular piston is connected, as shown in
Fig. 4, surrounds the upwardly-projecting cylindrical flanges a', above and around
the opening or outlet a. The lower end of the valve G, is provided with a series
of slots g, as shown in Fig. 5, and through these slots gas may pass from the gas-
receiving chamber to the pressure-chamber. In order to insure the efficient working
of the apparatus it is desirable that these slots should each be of the same width
from top to bottom, so that the escape from the gas-receiving chamber to the
pressure-chamber will depend on the depth of immersion of the valve in the fluid,
and not on any variation in width in the slot.
The rod D extends downwardly through the opening a³, and carries, in the
gas-receiving chamber, a cup-shaped valve H, which is slotted similarly to the
valve G, and projects into the fluid seal in the valve-chamber, a'. The lower end
of the rod D, projects through a guide-bracket d, extending across the opening c³;
the upper end projects through the opening 2, in the casting B, and carries an
inverted cup I, the downwardly-projecting side of which extends into the fluid seal
in the trough E. Above this cup the rod is connected by adjusting devices J,
with a strap K, passing over an eccentric or cam L, secured eccentrically to a
shaft M. The opposite end of the strap is connected to a weight N, which acts as
a counterpoise for the piston-rod and the piston and valve carried thereby. The
strap is provided with a series of apertures k, and the eccentric or cam carries a
pin 7, adapted to engage with the apertures. By changing the pin from one
aperture to another, the leverage of the cam may be varied and the counter-
balancing effect of the weight on the piston-rod and the parts connected therewith
correspondingly varied, so as to adjust the apparatus to give the desired pressure
at which the gas is to be supplied to the service-pipe.
A more delicate adjustment may be attained by manipulating the adjusting
devices J, in case the adjustment by changing the pin from one aperture to another
is not sufficiently accurate.
As the valves and piston descend into the mercury, the buoyancy is increased,
and this variation in the balancing of the apparatus would tend to interfere with
the nice adjustment of the mechanism; to compensate this, as the eccentric L
moves correspondingly with the piston and valves, it shifts the position of the
weight so as to decrease its power in tending to raise the valves and the piston.
The shaft M is supported on knife-edged open bearings o, in standards O. It is
extended to the outside of the apparatus and carries an index finger P, which
points to a scale on a dial Q, which may be secured by arms q, as indicated, to

page_text: one of the standards O. By this index and dial, the amount of gas used at any
time is clearly shown, as the position of the index-finger is controlled by the
position of the piston-rod D, and the parts connected therewith. A cover R,
encloses the upper part of the apparatus and may be bolted to the casting A, as
indicated in Fig. 2. This cover is provided with a slot or opening for the coupling
which connects the pressure-chamber with the service-pipe, and also with a slot
which permits it to be passed over the shaft M, and the arms g, which connect the
dial with the upright O.
When gas is admitted to the gas-receiving chamber a, it presses equally on the
valve H, and the valve G, and these valves, being of the same area, the pressure
is neutralized so that they neither rise nor fall, but the gas passes through the
slot in the valve, that, passing through the slots in the valve G, enters directly
into the pressure-chamber b, and passes to the service pipe through the opening b
The gas, passing through the slot in the valve H, passes through the openings c³,
and a, to the pressure-chamber, and into the service-pipe. If only a small
amount of gas is required in the service-pipe, the pressure in the chamber b, forces
the piston F, downwardly, carrying with it the valves G and H, thus reducing the
arca of the slots above the fluid level. When more burners are used in the
service-pipe, or a greater supply of gas is required therefor, the piston rises so as
to increase the area of the slots in the valve and enlarge the supply of gas. The
arrangement is such that the valves are opened and closed proportionately with
the amount of gas consumed, and this arrangement may be accurately adjusted
by adjusting the connection between the weight, the piston-rod and the eccentric,
as above explained. When no gas is being used from the service-pipe, the
volume of gas and pressure in the chamber 6, are increased sufficiently to close
the valves.
It will be observed that there is very little friction to interfere with the free
movement of the piston-rod. Practically, the only frictional obstruction, which is
very slight, is that caused by the connection of the rod with the guide-bracket d.
I have found in practice that when mercury is used for the fluid seal, and when
the valves rise and fall therein, there is a tendency for the mercury to adhere to
the valves, and to rise and fall with them. To remedy this, I attach wires or
fingers S, to the casing, and extend them through the slots in the valves. The
arrangement of the openings in the offsets is such that the fluid-levels in the two
chambers may be accurately gauged, so that they shall be the same and thus the
two valves will permit the escape of the same amount of gas. The construction
of the apparatus and its operation have now been fully described, and I would say
in addition that the apparatus works efficiently and with uniform accuracy.
The several parts of the apparatus may be readily taken apart and put together,
and there is no necessity for accurate grinding at the joints, or for packing or fitting,
as the mercury forms a gas-tight seal at those parts of the apparatus where there
would be liability of leakage.
Obviously, the depending flange of either valve or cup G or H, need not be
slotted; the other valve or cup would, in that event, still be equally counterbalanced
by opposing pressures, exactly as has been described, but gas would enter the
pressure-chamber through one valve or cup only. Where the depending flange
of G or H is not slotted it would not technically be a valve, because no gas would
pass through it, but in the claims I designate each of them as a valve. I intend,
however, that such designation of these parts in the claims shall include the idea
that one of them need not be slotted.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show a slight modification of the apparatus, especially adapted
for use in gas-works, or in large mains. The arrangement of the apparatus, except
as hereinafter designated, is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Gas enters
from the incoming main at U. The valve T, in the receiving-chamber, controls
the flow of gas to the pressure-chamber, but this valve, instead of being slotted as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a short depending flange t, which dips in the mercury
or fluid seal, when the valve is closed, and rises above it to a greater or less extent

page_text: to permit the requisite amount of gas to pass. This valve controls the only
opening from the receiving to the pressure chamber.
The passage T¹, below the valve, divides into two branches t¹, t², to deliver the
gas to the pressure-chamber at two points. There is a single passage U¹, for the
escape of gas from the pressure-chamber to the outgoing main.
The cup G, does not, in the instance, operate as a valve, (as in Figs. 1 and 2)
but serves to balance the valve T, by means of the gas-pressure on its upper surface,
so that the rising and falling or opening and closing of the valve T, depends
entirely upon the gas-pressure on the piston F.
The other parts of the apparatus are substantially the same as those shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, as above stated. In Figs. 6, 8 and 9, the upper part of the piston F,
and the cup G, are shown as made in one piece, instead of being separated, as shown
in Figs. 1 and 2, but the area of the part G, in each instance, is equal to the area
of the upper surface of the valve H or T.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing having a gas-pressure
chamber provided with an outlet to the service-pipe, and having also a gas-receiving
chamber provided with an inlet for connection with the source of gas-supply, a
slotted cup-shaped valve working in a fluid seal interposed between said chambers,
a similar valve in the receiving-chamber, controlling a passage-way connecting the
valve-chamber of the latter valve with the pressure-chamber, a mechanical connection
between the two valves whereby they are caused to move together, a piston in the
pressure-chamber connected with the former valve, whereby a relative increase of
pressure in said chamber tends to depress both valves, and variable counterbalancing
devices connected with the valves to compensate for variations in their effective
weight due to varying degrees of immersion in the fluid.
2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing provided with a gas-
pressure chamber having an outlet leading to the service-pipe, two mechanically-
connected valves controlling the supply of gas to the pressure-chamber, the areas
of which are such that the pressure of gas upon them approximately balances
them, a fluid seal or sent for each of said valves, and a piston in the pressure-
chamber unconfined at its periphery, having a fluid seal or seat, and connected with
said balanced valves, so as to move bodily therewith.
•
3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing provided with a gas-
pressure chamber having an outlet leading to the service-pipe, and an inlet through
which gas is admitted, a valve controlling said inlet, a fluid seal or seat for said
valve, a valve-stem, a counterbalancing device thereon, a fluid seal or seat for the
counterbalancing device, and a piston in the pressure-chamber unconfined at its
periphery, having.a fluid seal, and connected with the valves so as to move bodily
therewith.
4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing provided with a gas-
pressure chamber having an outlet leading to the service-pipe, two mechanically-
connected valves controlling the entrance of gas to the pressure-chamber, and
each provided with a fluid seal or seat, the area of said valves being such that
the pressure of gas thereupon approximately balances them, a piston in said
chamber unconfined at its periphery, having a fluid seal and connected with said
valves so as to move bodily therewith, and a mechanical counterbalancing device
connected with the valves.
5. The combination of a casing having a gas-receiving chamber, and a pressure-
chamber into which gas is admitted, and from which it is discharged, the valves Ch
and H having fluid seals, and which open and close passages between the two
chambers, the rod connecting the valves, the piston in the pressure-chamber uncon-
fined at its periphery, having a fluid seal, and connected with the valves so as to
move bodily therewith, the fluid receptacle E, arranged above the pressure-chamber;

page_text: the sealing-cup I, immersed therein, and carried by the valve-rod, a counter-
balancing weight N, a flexible connection between the weight and valve-rod, and a
pivoted eccentric over which the flexible connection passes, and with which it is
adjustably connected.
6. In a gas-regulator, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing
having a pressure-chamber provided with inlet and outlet ports, a cup-shaped
balanced valve having a fluid seal or seat, and controlling the flow of gas to the
pressure-chamber, a piston in the chamber connected with the balanced valve, and
variable counterbalancing devices connected with the valve and piston, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a gas-regulating apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a
casing provided with a pressure-chamber having entrance and exit ports, a slotted,
cup-shaped valve at the entrance port, extending into a fluid-seal recess in the
casing, and devices for preventing the fluid adhering to the valve as it rises
and falls.
8. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the casing A, of the gas-
receiving chamber, the casing B, of the pressure-chamber, the fluid-seal recess in
the casing A, in which the edge of the casing B is sealed, and the fluid in which
forins a gas-tight joint between said casings, a valve in the receiving-chamber
controlling a passage for gas from the receiving-chamber to the pressure-chamber,
and a valvo in the pressure-chamber controlling a second passage between the two
chambers.
9. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the casings of the gas-receiving
and pressure-chambers, having inlet and outlet openings, a valve in the receiving-
chamber controlling a passage from the receiving-chamber to the pressure-chamber,
a valve in the pressure-chamber controlling a second passage from the receiving-
chamber to the pressure-chamber, a piston in the pressure-chamber connected with
these valves, a counterbalancing weight, an adjustable strap connected with
the piston, a cam over which the strap passes, and a cover enclosing the cam
and weight.
10. The combination of a gas-pressure chamber, having inlet and outlet ports, a
valve having a fluid seal or seat, and a counterbalancing device for the valve, also
having a fluid seat.
11. The apparatus for regulating the flow of gas, substantially such as described
and illustrated.
Dated this 13th day of February 1892.