An Automatic Valve for Regulating the Supply of Compressed Gases to Holders.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Valve for Regulating the Supply of Compressed
Gases to Holders.
We HERMAN STEINEM of Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, Manufacturer, and
WILLIAM COOK, of 53 Baring Street, Hoxton, Engineer, both in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The object of the present invention is to provide means of automatically
supplying compressed gases contained in cylinders or similar vessels wherein they
have previously been stored under high pressure, to holders or storage vessels
generally of much larger dimensions, but in which as a rule the pressure is
comparatively low, and generally little above that of the surrounding atmosphere.
This result has so far been attained by means of reducing valves of a more or
less complicated mechanism, but this mode of dealing is not satisfactory considering
that the difference of pressure between the compressed gas cylinder and the storage
holder is very great when the cylinder is full and very small when same is nearly
empty, and consequently the mechanism of such reducing valves is generally, if
not always insufficient to cope with the conditions to be dealt with.
What is required however is not a reducing valve dependent only on the
difference of pressure between the two vessels, but on the contrary a valve depending
on the state of the more or less complete fullness of the two vessels, thus rendering
it independent of the constantly varying pressure in same.
We are aware that such an attempt has been made, but the means employed are
not efficient, because it is indispensable for the valve to be screwed down tightly on
its seating to prevent the gas from passing from the compressed gas cylinder to the
holder and owing to the fact that very little power is at hand to secure a tight
screwing down, such power being derived only from the difference of weight
between the bell of the holder and the counterpoise, such difference being
necessarily small since the pressure on such bell must be kept low.
In order to attain the desired effect and to obviate at the same time the incon-
veniences referred to, we construct a valve the inlet of which is connected to a
compressed gas cylinder, and the outlet is connected with the storage holder. The
valve itself is cylindrical, and its face is best made of a somewhat elastic material
such as vulcanite, or may be made of leather with an india-rubber backing, or any
other suitable material.
It is kept in position and pressed against its seating by means of a spring on the
inlet side whilst a second valve provided with a pin or cylindrical projection of
small diameter rests against it on the side opposite to that on which the spring is
made to act.
The end of this second valve, opposite to the one referred to (bearing the pin), is
made to protrude from the valve casing, and an elastic diaphragm joint and stuffing
box prevent the efflux of gas when the valve is lifted off its seating.
It is well understood that the pressure of the gas thus keeps the valve closed, and
that the depression of the part protruding through the casing will permit the gas
to pass from the vessel containing the compressed gas into the gas holder whereas
such efflux will be stopped when the pin is no longer being depressed, and that a
simple lateral motion is required, thus doing away with the necessity of screwing
the valve down.

page_text: The remainder of the apparatus has a double object, on the one hand to reduce
the depression of the pin referred to when the volume of gas in the holder
diminishes, thus allowing the fresh quantity of gas to pass from the cylinder to the
holder, and on the other hand to give warning of the fact that the cylinder which
had contained the compressed gas is empty, when the fresh vessel has to be
connected to the inlet of the regulating valve, both objects being attained by the
fall of the bell.
For this purpose we provide a fulcrum, the pivot of which is at its extreme end,
and this is fastened above the centre of the pin to be depressed where it forms
a link or hinge, the valve casing itself being horizontal so that the inlet is on
its left, and the depressing pin on its right. The outlet may conveniently be placed
in the middle and form a T branch.
The fulcrum hangs vertically, and is so adjusted that when in that position
it rests against the end of the depressing pin. At its extreme end this fulcrum
is provided with a small wheel at right angle with the fulcrum, and this wheel
runs against a pulley of larger diameter, the latter being parallel with the
fulcrum. This larger wheel is grooved on its periphery; and a cord or flexible
metal cable runs in same, and this cord after passing over a similarly shaped
grooved loose pulley, (the object of the latter being only to insure better contact
and tension of the cable), is made to pass over one or two pulleys fixed on a
support above the highest point which the bell of the gas holder has to reach,
and is finally made fast to the top of this valve.
The inner face of the first grooved pulley is provided on the lateral side on which
the small wheel of the fulcrum runs tangentially with a concentric cam which is so
shaped, that only in a small portion of the circumference can the small wheel, and
therefore the fulcrum, remain vertical, and the valve thus remain closed. This is
the case when the gas holder is full, and the bell or lift of same has reached its greatest
height. As soon, however, as the gas is withdrawn from the holder, the bell of the
holder falls and, acting on the grooved pulley, makes same revolve whereby its lateral
cam displaces the wheel of the fulcrum horizontally, thus depressing the pin acting
on the valve, which being lifted off its seat, allows the gas to immediately pass
from the cylinder into the holder.
This has of course for result to make the bell rise again, thus bringing the
grooved pulley back to its original position, the fulcrum resumes its vertical
position thus allowing the valve to become closed again.
This rotary movement of the pulley to the right or to the left continues, the
pulley revolving in either case only by an angle of a few degrees, that is, that a
given point on its circumference is only deplaced say for instance by a quarter of a
circle. When however the cylinder which has contained the compressed gas is
empty, the bell of the holder continues to fall, consequently the pulley rotates con-
tinually, and makes several revolutions whereby a series of catches round its
circumference are made to act on the hammer of a small bell attachment, thus
making same ring several times at each full revolution of the pulley, thus
announcing that the supply from the cylinder is exhausted.
The hammer of the bell is kept in position by means of a spring, or other similar
arrangement, and is constructed so as to ring only when the pulley revolves from
left to right i.e. when the holder falls, whereas it does not ring when the pulley
revolves in the opposite direction viz. when the holder is being filled, and the bell
of same is rising.
Dated the 25th day of March 1893.

page_text: An Automatic Valve for Regulating the Supply of Compressed
Gases to Holders.
We HERMAN STEINEM of Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, Manufacturer and
WILLIAM COOK of 53 Baring Street, Hoxton, Engineer both in the County of
Middlesex, 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 :-
The object of the present invention is to provide means of automatically
supplying compressed gases contained in cylinders or similar vessels, wherein they
have previously been stored under high pressure, to holders or storage vessels
generally of much larger dimensions but in which as a rule the pressure is
comparatively low and generally little above that of the surrounding atmosphere.
This result has so far been attained by means of reducing valves of a more or
less complicated mechanism, but this mode of dealing is not satisfactory considering
that the difference of pressure between the compressed gas cylinder and the storage
holder is very great when the cylinder is full and very small when same is nearly
empty, and consequently the mechanism of such reducing valves is generally, if
not always insufficient to cope with the conditions to be dealt with.
What is required, however, is not a reducing valve dependent only on the
difference of pressure between the two vessels, but on the contrary a valve
depending on the state of the more or less complete fullness of the two vessels, thus
rendering it independent of the constantly varying pressure in same.
We are aware that such an attempt has been made but the means employed are
not efficient because it is indispensable for the valve to be screwed down tightly on
its seating to prevent the gas from passing from the compressed gas cylinder to the
holder and owing to the fact that very little power is at hand to secure a tight
screwing down, such power being derived only from the difference of weight
between the bell of the holder and the counterpoise, such difference being
necessarily small since the pressure on such bell must be kept low.

page_text: the one referred to (bearing the pin 61), is made to protrude from the valve casing c
and an elastic diaphragm joint b³ and stuffing box bª prevent the efflux of gas when
the valve a is lifted off its seating a³. It is well understood that the pressure of
the gas thus keeps the valve a closed, and that the depression of the part b
protruding through the casing e will permit the gas to pass from the vessel
containing the compressed gas into the gas holder, whereas such efflux will be
stopped when the pin is no longer being depressed, and that a simple lateral
motion is required thus doing away with the necessity of screwing the valve down.
The remainder of the apparatus has a double object, on the one hand to reduce
the depression of the pin 62 referred to when the volume of gas in the holder
diminishes, thus allowing the fresh quantity of gas to pass from the cylinder to the
holder, and on the other hand to give warning of the fact that the cylinder which
had contained the compressed gas is empty, when the fresh vessel has to be
connected to the inlet A of the regulating valve, both objects being attained by
the fall of the bell.
For this purpose we provide a fulcrum d the pivot d' of which is at its extreme
end, and this is fastened above the centre of the pin 62 to be depressed where it forms a
link or hinge e¹ the valve casing itself being horizontal so that the inlet A is on
its left, and the depressing pin on its right 62. The outlet B may conveniently be
placed in the middle and form a T branch. The fulcrum d hangs vertically, and is
so adjusted that when in that position it rests against the end of the depressing
pin b
At its extreme lower end this fulcrum d is provided with a small wheel d²
at right angle with the fulcrum d, and this wheel d² runs against a pulley e of larger
diameter, the latter being parallel with the fulcrum. This larger wheel e is
grooved on its periphery, and a cord or flexible metal cable runs in same,
and this cord after passing over a similarly shaped grooved loose pulley g (the
object of the latter being only to insure better contact and tension of the cable),
is made to pass over one or two pulleys (not shown) fixed on a support above the
highest point which the bell of the gas holder has to reach, and is finally made
fast to the top of this valve.
The inner face of the first grooved pulley is provided on the lateral side on
which the small wheel d² of the fulcrum runs tangentially with a concentric cam el
which is so shaped, that only in a small portion of the circumference can the small
wheel d, and therefore the fulcrum d, remain vertical, and the valve a thus remain
closed.
This is the case when the gas holder is full, and the bell or lift of same has
reached its greatest height. As soon, however, as the gas is withdrawn from the
holder, the bell of the holder falls and, acting on the grooved pulley e, makes
same revolve whereby its lateral cam e displaces the wheel d² of the fulcrum d
horizontally, thus depressing the pin acting on the valve a, which being lifted
off its seat a³, allows the gas to immediately pass from the cylinder into the
holder.
This has of course for result to make the bell rise again, thus bringing the
grooved pulley e back to its original position, the fulcrum & resumes its vertical
position thus allowing the valve to become closed again.
This rotary movement of the pulley e to the right or to the left continues, the
pulley revolving in either case only by an angle of a few degrees, that is that a
given point on its circumference is only displaced say for instance by a quarter
of a circle. When however the cylinder which has contained the compressed gas
is empty, the bell of the holder continues to fall, consequently the pulley e rotates
continually, and makes several revolutions thereby a series of catches e², e², round
its circumference are made to act on the hammer of a small bell attachment i,
thus making same ring several times at each full revolution of the pulley e, thus
announcing that the supply from the cylinder is exhausted.
The hammer h of the belli is kept in position by means of a spring h³, or other
similar arrangement, and is constructed so as to ring only when the pulley e revolves
from left to right .e. when the holder falls, whereas it does not ring when the

page_text: pulley revolves in the opposite direction viz. when the holder is being filled, and the
bell of same is rising; thus when the pulley e revolves from left to right a pin e
comes in contact with the finger he held loosely on the hammer axis h³, and pressing
said finger on the stop rotates the axis so as to bring back the hammer; the pin e*
then passing the finger the bell is struck.
On the other hand when the pulley revolves in the opposite direction, the
stop allows the finger 2 to rise thus letting the stops e pass freely.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The combination or arrangement and use of parts of an automatic valve for
regulating the supply of compressed gases to holders substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated the 24th day of January 1904
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.