Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
The regulators in use hitherto for regulating the pressure of gases and other
fluids in their various tubes and pipes have numerous defects. The irregularity of
their working, mostly caused by the complicated fittings of which they are composed
and by the attention they require, have caused them to be abandoned. The regu-
lator which I have invented is extremely simple, and does not get out of order, as
will be seen from the following Specification.
In order to make my invention more clearly understood I shall now refer to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a front view, partly in section;
Fig. 2 is a side view.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.
The apparatus is inserted in a pipe, the course of which is not interrupted
thereby.
A is an outer casing containing the entire apparatus; it is terminated at the
lower part by a flange B which joins with another flange fixed to the gas feed pipe.
A second flange C on the upper part joins also to the pipe of the fluid in such
manner that when the joints are made, the current is obliged to circulate in the
various parts of my apparatus in order to pass from the lower to the upper part of
the pipe.
The circumference of the casing A is hollow all round so that the gas may
circulate freely from bottom to top, iz.: from V to X and from Y to Z. D is a
tube closed at the bottom but open at the top, and having three openings in its
circumference; one of these openings a is the inlet of the gas; the two others bb
are arranged to put in communication the fluid with the empty circumference V X
and Y Z of the casing A.
A piston E acting as an obturator or regulator for the admission of the gas,
moves in the tube D. This piston is connected by a rod to a bell F which imparts
to it a vertical movement intended to reduce or increase as required, the opening a
in the tube D for the admission of gas. H is a cylinder in which is placed the
bell F, which bell rests at the bottom in a bath of mercury or other liquid more
especially suited to the nature of the fluid for which the apparatus is intended and
of which the pressure is to be regulated. The dome of the bell F is provided with
an helicoidal rod I the upper part of which is held in a bow J, between whose arins
there is a regulator K intended to control the ascension of the bell, in fact as this
regulator (which is provided with two wings or paddles K) turns, it offers more or
less resistance to the surrounding air according as the bell rises or falls, and
consequently it opposes to a certain extent, the introduction of gas into the bell F,
the principle being that upon which the governor balls of steam engines are based.
The position of the flanges B and C depends on the requirements of each case,
i.e. they may be placed at the vertical extremities of the apparatus as shown in the
drawing, or on the side of the tube as shown in dotted lines. Joints may be used
instead of flanges where desirable, and generally speaking my system may be
arranged so as to apply to any particular case. The faces of the apparatus are of
glass to keep out the dust.
The apparatus works in the following manner: The gas is led to the lower part
21

page_text: of the main inlet N; it passes between this inlet and the tube D, into which it
enters by the opening u. The fluid fills the tube D; it therefore presses against
the bell to which it imparts a vertical movement, the pressure of which is pro-
portionate to the pressure of the gas; the greater this pressure is, the higher the
bell rises, and the more the piston E covers, that is to say closes, the opening a.
During this time the gas enters by the openings bb, it goes forward into the annular
space VX, YZ, from which it passes by the upper outlet into the general
piping which feeds the burners, or other apparatuses.
The arrows show clearly the directions taken by the fluid.
When the pressure diminishes, the bell F falls, the float or piston E sets free the
opening a, the gas enters more easily into the apparatus and passes along more
freely. As shown, when the fluid is at the normal pressure it circulates without
obstacle in the pipes; if on the contrary the pressure is exaggerated, the quantity
of gas is reduced by the float and consequently the pressure in the pipes continues
to be regular, which is the point so long sought after.
The sizes of the apparatus vary according to the delivery required; its form
even, as above mentioned, and the materials of its composition depend on local
circumstances, but the principle is invariable.
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:
In a regulator for gas or other fluids, the combination of an outer casing A con-
structed as above described, with a tube D, piston E, bell F, cylinder H, helicoidal
rod I and regulator K substantially as above described and shown for the purpose
specified.
Dated this Seth day of Time 1801
A. H. REED,
Agent for Applicant.