IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING OR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OR PRESSURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN PART RELATING TO THE TESTING OF GAS.”
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Bruce Peebles, of the Tay Works, Bonnington, in
the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING OR CONTROLLING THE FLOW
OR PRESSURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN PART
RELATING TO THE TESTING OF GAS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Bruce Peebles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February 1878.
"
DAVID BRUCE PEEBLES, of the Tay Works, Bonnington, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING
OR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OR PRESSURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS,
AND IN PART RELATING TO THE TESTING OF GAS."
This Invention comprises various improvements in constructive details and in the
modes of combining the parts of gas apparatus, and has generally for its objects the
better governing or controlling of the flow or pressure of illuminating gas and other
fluids, and the convenient and accurate testing of gas.
The present improvements are to some extent further developments or modifi-
cations of those described or referred to in the Specification of Letters Patent
obtained by the present applicant, and dated 26 April 1877 (No. 1626).
One improvement is applicable to gas governors for delivering a constant volume
of gas to one or more burners, in which as hitherto made a light disc carrying an
upwardly acting conical valve has been acted on by the inlet pressure, so as to raise
the valve more or less into the exit orifice.
The improvement consists in substituting for the disc a comparatively long hollow
flanged cone or conical pointed tube made of tin, vulcanite, or other suitable
material, the conical point forming the valve, whilst a central pointed stud or needle
is provided for the interior of the conical point to rest on when the gas is shut off.
This arrangement is much less liable to stick when at rest than a disc which rests
DC31

page_text: on several points or against the sides of the chamber. The flow of gas is adjusted
by a screw plug in a small lateral passage.
A second part of the improvements consists in arranging or constructing the parts
of a gas governor for districts or for similar uses in an improved simple and reliable
manner without requiring a liquid or a flexible diaphragm.
The valve which may be made of vulcanite, tin, or other suitable material, is in
the form of a drum arranged to move vertically through a circular aperture in a
horizontal division of the casing; the inlet gas having access to the under sides
of the drum valve, and the space above it being in communication with the
outlet.
The drum valve is more or less counterbalanced by a weighted lever, its remaining
or effective weight diminishing to a corresponding extent the pressure of gas in the
outlet as compared with the inlet pressure. When the valve is raised the gas passes
by indentations or cavities made at suitable intervals round the cylindrical sides,
and these indentations are by preference made angular with straight or curved sides,
and placed so as to open or uncover successively, so that when the valve is nearly
closed its movement will make comparatively less difference in the extent of passage
for the gas. Beneath the drum valve there is by preference a fixed cylindrical shell
within or over which the valve works freely, and which tends to prevent changes
of pressure from acting suddenly on the valve.
Instead of the cylindrical part of the valve being indented without being per-
forated the angular openings may be cut through it; and in this case the inlet or
outlet gas should have free access to the interior of the valve.
In a third improved governor a modification of the laterally indented drum valve
of the second modification is arranged as a reducing valve for water or other fluid,
the cylindrical part of the valve being extended downwards and working through
an orifice into a space beneath the main casing, in which space it is connected to n
counterweighted lever, or is acted on by water, which by means of a stand pipe or
otherwise is made to have a pressure corresponding to that to which the fluid
passing the valve is to be reduced. The orifice through which the cylindrical part
of the drum valve works is either packed or made sufficiently close fitting, and
when a counterweighted lever is used a receptacle and an outlet are provided for
the leakage.
In this modification also, instead of the indentations in the valve being formed
without perforating the shell, they may be cut through it, and two or other
number of large angular openings may be made instead of numerous small
indentations.
In a fourth modification of governor suitable for gaseous fluids the drum valve
with lateral indentations or with angular openings is inverted as compared with its
position as previously described, the inlet pressure acting on the top of it and also
inside a bell floating in water in a casing above the valve. The valve is connected
to the bell by a rod passing up a central pipe, through which pipe also the gas
reaches the bell, and a weighted lever is applied to counterbalance part of the weight
of the valve and bell, or a float is fixed to the bell for that purpose.
The lower part of the drum valve may be arranged to work within or over a
fixed cylinder in the outlet space to prevent oscillation.
The fifth modification of governor resembles the fourth, excepting that the valve
is conical, and there is beneath the valve seat a cylindrical shell within which the
bottom or closing part of the valve works; and this cylindrical shell is formed with
angular openings which make the change of extent of passage less relatively to the
movement of the valve when near the closing position. The points of the
openings are by preference placed in different positions so as to open or uncover
successively.
The cylindrical angularly perforated valve seat shell is advantageously applicable
in connection with many gas governor valves, and may be made of vulcanite, or tin,
or other suitable material. The valve seat shell may also be formed with inden-
tations or cavities on its inner side instead of having perforations.

page_text: In a sixth modification of governor suitable for gaseous fluids the valve is a disc
working upwards from a seat, which has the cylindrical angularly perforated shell,
and the disc is connected by a central stem to a bell of about the same diameter;
the gas inside this bell being in communication (by pipes passing through the
bottom of the governor casing) with a separate governor or controller, according to
the system described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to the present
applicant and dated 26 June 1875 (No. 2328).
For moderate and large sizes the separate governor or controller is by preference
of the kind having a bell floating in water; and whilst the inside of the bell is
always in communication with the bell of the main governor the pipes by which
gas passes to and from the bell are fitted with stop-cocks, so that when circumstances
render it desirable the stop-cocks may be closed and the bell be simply loaded to
give the desired pressure.
The seventh modification of governor differs from the sixth in there being sub-
stituted for the cylindrical angularly slotted valve seat shell a modification of the
laterally indented drum valve of preceding modifications. This drum valve is open
topped, and there projects down into it a fixed cylinder which prevents oscillation.
The floating bell is of the diameter of the valve, and its top is below the indented
cylindrical part..
An improvement applicable to the sixth and seventh modifications of governor
and also to some others consists in connecting the interior of the bell or floating
valve supporter by a pipe to a bladder or a bag made wholly or partly of a flexible
material, such as bladder skin softened with glycerine, and loaded with a weight, or
by being submerged under a column of water or other suitable liquid.
Another improvement consists in making the bell or floating casing of vul-
canite.
The improved gas-testing apparatus comprised in the present Invention is
designed to indicate the density or quality of illuminating gas by comparing its rate
of issue through an orifice with that of atmospheric air. For this purpose two gas
holders are combined with their tanks and accessory details, all made as nearly alike
as possible and with scales accurately showing the volumes corresponding to the
various positions of the holders. Each holder has provided in connection with its
outlet tube a burner with a platinum tip or other suitable orifice piece, and when
adjusting the apparatus both holders are filled with atmospheric air and then
equally loaded. The stop-cocks are then opened simultaneously and the orifices
equalised, so that the air passes through each at exactly the same rate.
testing purposes the holders are next filled, one with air and the other with the
illuminating gas to be tested, and the stop-cocks are opened.
For
The difference in the rates of issue of the air and gas is carefully noted from the
scales, and the quality of the gas is calculated or estimated accordingly.
It is an important advantage of this arrangement that the accurate working of
the apparatus can at any time be made certain by trying the two holders with air
or with the same gas.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Bruce Peebles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st August
1878.
DAVID BRUCE PEEBLES, of the Tay Works, Bonnington, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING
OR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OR PRESSURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS,
AND IN PART RELATING TO THE TESTING OF GAS."
My said Invention comprises various improvements in constructive details and
in the modes of combining the parts of gas apparatus, and has generally for its
objects the better governing or controlling of the flow or pressure of illuminating
gas and other fluids, and the convenient and accurate testing of gas.
My present improvements are to some extent further developments or modifications
of those described or referred to in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to
me, and dated 26 April 1877 (No. 1626).
And in order that my present Invention, and the manner of performing the same
may be readily and properly understood, I at once proceed to particularly describe
the same with the aid of the accompanying explanatory Drawings. These Drawings
are upon two sheets, and in them the same reference numerals are used to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
One improvement is applicable to gas governors for delivering a constant volume
of gas to one or more burners, in which governors as hitherto made a light disc
carrying an upwardly acting conical valve has been acted on by the inlet pressure
so as to raise the valve more or less into the exit orifice.
One modification of the improvement is shown in vertical section in Figure 1, on
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, and it consists in substituting for the disc
a comparatively long hollow flanged cone 1, made of tin or vulcanite, or other
suitable material, the conical point forming the valve, whilst a central pointed stud
or needle 2 is provided for the interior of the conical point to rest on when the gas
is shut off. This arrangement is much less liable to stick when at rest than a disc
which rests on several points or against the sides of the chamber. The cone 1 works
in a cylindrical chamber 3, in which its bottom fits as closely as can be managed
without its freedom of movement being interfered with by friction. The gas has
access from the inlet pipe 4 to the space beneath the cone 1, and passes to the upper
side of the cone by a lateral passage 5, the free way of which can be adjusted by
means of a screw plug. When it is not wished to have the rate of flow changeable
the lateral passage 5 and its screw plug may be dispensed with, and one or more
small holes may be formed in the cone 1 itself for the passage of the gas to its
upper side. I prefer to have two diametrically opposite holes in the cone with the
view of the cone being balanced.
Instead of the simple flanged cone 1 there may be a small cone connected by a
tube to the flange. These variations are adopted in the modification shown in
vertical section in Figure 2, and in this modification the governor is shown as having
in connection with it a recording instrument which is in the form of a sinall time-
piece 6. The works of this time-piece are of an ordinary kind, with balance wheel
escapement and the stop-cock 7 of the gas pipe 4 is connected by a rod 8 to a
frictional stop slide fitted to the clockwork so as to prevent the movement of the
balance wheel when the stop-cock is shut. On opening the stop-cock 7 the balance
wheel is released, and in consequence the instrument records on the dials the
aggregate of the time during which the stop-cock is open, from which the
consumption of gas can be calculated.
A second part of my present improvements consists in arranging or con-
structing the parts of a gas governor for districts or for similar uses in an
improved simple and reliable manner without requiring a liquid or a flexible
diaphragm.

page_text: Figure 3 is a vertical section of one modification of this improved arrangement,
in which the valve 9, which may be made of vulcauite or tin, or other suitable
material, is in the form of a drum, arranged to move vertically through a circular
aperture in a horizontal division 10 of the casing 11, the inlet gas entering at
12, having access to the under side of the drum valve 9, and the space above it
being in communication with the outlet 13.
The drum valve 9 is more or less counterbalanced by a weighted lever 14, when
a very small diminution of the inlet pressure is desired, the remaining or effective
weight of the valve diminishing to a corresponding extent the pressure of gas in the
outlet 13 as compared with the inlet pressure. When a considerable diminution of
pressure is required the valve 9 may be loaded in the manner shown in Figure 4
instead of being counterbalanced. When the valve 9 is raised the gas passes by
indentations or cavities 15, made at suitable intervals round the cylindrical sides,
and these indentations 15 are by preference made angular, with straight or curved
sides, and placed with their upper ends in different positions so as to open or
uncover successively, so that when the valve is nearly closed its movement will
make comparatively less difference in the extent of passage for the gas. Figure 5
is a horizontal section of the drum valve 9, near its bottom, and shows the form of
the indentations or cavities 15, which form may however be varied.
Instead of the cylindrical part of the drum valve 9 being indented without being
perforated, angular openings 15 may be cut through it, as shown in Figure 4; and
in this case the valve seat may have a cylindrical downward extension, the inlet gas
having access from below to the interior of the valve.
The arrangement of governor shown in Figure 4 can be advantageously applied
to the outlet pipes of gas retorts instead of the ordinary hydraulic soal.
In a third improved governor a modification of the laterally indented drum valve
9 of the second arrangement is arranged as a reducing valve for water or other
fluid. Figure 6 is a vertical section showing one modification of this reducing valve
as arranged for water. The cylindrical part of the valve 9 is extended downwards,
its lowest part 16 either working through a close-fitting or packed orifice into a
space beneath the main casing, in which space it is connected to a counterweighted
lever, or it is, as shown in the Figure, packed to work water-tight in a cylindrical
part 17 of the casing, and its bottom end or its interior is acted on by water, which,
by means of a stand pipe 18 or otherwise, is made to have a pressure corresponding
to that to which the water passing the valve is to be reduced. For convenience of
adjustment the upward pressure on the valve 9 due to the water in the pipe 18
may be partly counterbalanced by weights 19 applied upon the top of the valve.
In this arrangement also, instead of the indentations 15 in the valve 9 being
formed without perforating the shell, they may be cut through it, and two or other
number of large angular openings may be made instead of numerous small
indentations.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a modification, which differs from that shown in
Figure 6 in having the parts inverted and the extension 16 of the valve 9 working
through a stuffing box. In this case the pressure due to water in the stand pipe 18
may be modified by weights applied to the valve 9.
A fourth improved arrangement of governor, which is suitable for gaseous fluids,
is shown in vertical section in Figure 8 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings,
and in it the drum valve 9 with lateral indentations or angular openings 15 is
inverted, as compared with its position in Figures 3 and 4, the inlet pressure acting
on the top of it, and also inside a bell 20 floating in water in a casing 21 above the
valve casing 11. The valve 9 is connected to the bell 20 by a rod 22 passing up a
central pipe 23, through which pipe also the gas reaches the bell, and a weighted
lever 14 applied to counterbalance part of the weight of the valve 9 and bell 20;
or a float 24 may be fixed to the bell for that purpose, as shown in Figure 9.
A fifth improved arrangement of governor is shown in vertical section in Figure 9,
and resembles the fourth, excepting that the valve 25 is conical, and there is beneath
the valve seat a cylindrical shell 26, within which the bottom or closing part of the

page_text: valve works, and this cylindrical valve seat shell 26 is formed with angular
openings 15, which make the change of extent of passago less relatively to the
movement of the valve when near the closing position. The points of the openings
15 are by preference placed in different positions, so as to open or uncover suc-
cessively.
The cylindrical angularly perforated valve seat shell 26 is advantageously
applicable in connection with many gas governor valves, and may be made of
vulcanite or tin or other suitable material. The valve seat shell 26 may also be
formed with indentations or cavities 15 concave to its inner side, as shown in
horizontal section in Figure 10, instead of having perforations.
In a sixth improved arrangement of governor, which is suitable for gaseous fluids,.
and which is shown in vertical section in Figure 11, some of the parts are in con.
struction and arrangement like what is described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to Goldsworthy Gurney, and dated 18 August 1842 (No. 9451). Such
parts are however combined with my angularly perforated or indented valve seat
shell 26 and other details. The valve is a disc 27 working upwards from a seat
in a division 10 of the casing 11, such seat having the cylindrical angularly.
perforated shell 26 formed on or attached to it, and the disc 27 is connected by a
central stem 28 to a bell 29 of the same diameter, the gas inside this bell 29 being in
communication by a pipe 30 passing through the bottom of the governor casing 11
with a separate governor or controller, according to the system described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated 26 June 1875 (No. 2328).
For moderate and large sizes the separate governor or controller is by preference
of the kind shown in Figure 11, and having a bell 31 floating in water, and whilst
the inside of the bell 31 is always in communication with the bell 29 of the main
governor, the pipes 32, 33, 34, by which the gas passes to and from the bell aro
fitted with stop-cocks, so that when circumstances render it desirable the stop-cocks
may be closed, and the bell 31 be simply loaded to give the desired pressure.
pipe 35 from the inlet 12 of the main governer (or it might be from any other
suitable source) is fitted with branches 32, 33, leading, the former into the bell 31
through a valve regulated by the bell 31, and the latter to the outside of the bell,
and a pipe 34 communicating with the interior of the bell is fitted with a stop-cock
and burner or other outlet to the atmosphere. A stop-cock 36 is also fitted to the
top of the casing. With these arrangements the combined controller and inain
governor can be made to act in various ways to suit different requirements. Thus
if the pipes 32, 34, and 36 are closed, and 33 open, the governor will be made to
act as a district governor, varying the outlet pressure of gas in correspondence with
the variations of the inlet pressure, but always maintaining a certain difference
between the two, depending on the extent to which the controller bell 31 is loaded.
Again, if the pipe 33 is closed, and the stop cocks of the pipes 32, 34, 36, opened,
and the load on the bell 31 suitably adjusted, the inain governor will be made to
give a constant outlet pressure; or, again, if the pipes 32, 33, 34, are closed, and the
stop-cock 36 opened, the outlet pressure from the main governor may be ex-
clusively controlled by the weights applied to the controller bell 31.
A
The separate controllor shown in Figure 11 may be applied in connection with
the governor shown in Figure 9, and herein-before described, a pipe 37, indicated by
dotted lines, being led from the casing 21 into the controller bell 31. It is however
to be understood that the actions or some of them will be reversed, and the adjust-
ments must be made accordingly.
A seventh improved arrangement of governor is shown in vertical section in
Figure 12, and differs from the sixth in there being substituted for the cylindrical
angularly perforated or slotted valve seat shell (26) a modification of the laterally
indented drum valve 9 of preceding modifications. This drum valve 9 is open-
topped, and the floating bell 29, which is of the same diameter as the valve 9, has
its top just below the indented cylindrical part.
An improvement, applicable to my sixth and seventh modifications of governor,
and also to some others, and which is also shown in Figure 12, consists in con-

page_text: necting the interior of the bell or floating valve supporter 29 by a pipe 34 to a
bladder or a bag 38 made wholly or partly of a flexible material, such as bladder
skin softened with glycerine, and which is loaded by weights or by being submerged
under a column of water or other suitable liquid.
Another improvement consists in making the bell or floating casing 29 of
vulcanite.
In my Provisional Specification relative hereto reference is made to the use in
connection with various modifications of my improved valves of a fixed cylindrical
shell, within or over which the valve works freely, the object being to prevent
sudden movements of the valve; I have, however, found that such additional
contrivance is not required with my valve.
The improved gas-testing apparatus comprised in my present Invention is
designed to indicate the density or quality of illuminating gas, by comparing its
rate of issue through an orifice with that of atmospheric air
or another gas.
Figure 13 is an elevation of the apparatus, and in it two gas holders 39 are
combined, with their tanks 40 and accessory details, all made as nearly alike as
possible, and with scales 41 accurately showing the volumes corresponding to the
various positions of the holders 39. Each holder has provided in connection with
its outlet pipe 42 a burner 43, with a platinum tip or other suitable orifice piece,
and when adjusting the apparatus both holders are filled with atmospheric air and
then equally loaded. The burner stop-cocks 44 are then opened simultaneously and
the orifices are carefully equalised, so that the air passes through each at exactly
the same rate. For testing purposes the holders are filled, one with air and the
other with the illuminating gas to be tested, and the stop-cocks 44 are opened.
The difference in the rates of issue of the air and gas is carefully noted from the
scales, and the density or quality of the gas is estimated or calculated accordingly.
Any kind of gas can be tested in this way, and the same gas can be tested simul-
taneously or otherwise at different pressures.
In order that the stop-cocks 44 may be opened simultaneously, their plug spindles
have tubes 45 formed or fixed on them and a loose spindle is entered into both
tubes, the ends of which tubes nearly touch each other and have handles 46 fixed
on them.
A bolt 47, fixed to a ring loose on one of the tubes 45, is fitted to slide
through a slot in the boss of one handle into a slot or notch in the boss of the
other handle, and when required it locks the two handles together so as to insure
their simultaneous movement. When the bolt is drawn back the handles 46 can
be turned independently of each other. Various stop-cocks 48, 49, 50, are fitted
to the holder pipes 42, for conveniently connecting gas supply pipes or for letting
out gas.
It is an important advantage of my improved gas-testing arrangement that the
accurate working of the apparatus can at any time be made certain by trying the
two holders with air or with the same gas.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated; but that what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The automatic regulating piece of a constant volume gas governor made in
the form of a flanged cone or flanged tube and cone combined, the point of the
cone acting as valve to the exit orifice, and being hollow and when not raised by
the gas resting on a central pointed stud or needle, substantially as herein-before
described.
2. The combinations of parts forming dry gas governors, as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
3. The combination of parts forming a pressure-reducing valve for liquids, as
herein-before described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
4. The combination of parts forming a pressure-reducing valve for liquids, as
herein-before described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: 5. The combination of parts forming a gas governor, as herein-before described
with reference to Figure 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
6. The gas governor valve constructed in the form of a hollow drum (9) and made
with angular indentations, or cavities, or perforations (15) in or through its cylin-
drical part, substantially as herein-before described.
7. The cylindrical valve seat shell (26) made with angular perforations or with
indentations or cavities, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
described.
8. The constructing of the drum valve (9) or the valve seat shell (26) with the
angular indentations or cavities or perforations in different positions so as to open
successively, as herein-before described.
9. The combination of a conical valve (25) or disc valve (27) with a valve seat
shell (26) made with angular perforations or with indentations or cavities, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
10. The combination of parts forming a gas governor, as herein-before described
with reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
11. The combination of parts forming a gas governor, as herein-before described
with reference to Figure 11 of the accompanying Drawings (whatever kind of
separate controller is used therewith).
12. The arranging of the separate controller in the improved manner herein-
before described with reference to Figure 11 of the accompanying Drawings, and
more particularly fitting to it of pipe connections to admit of its use in any of the
various ways indicated."
13. The combination as a gas governor valve and float of a cylindrical shell (9),
formed with angular indentations or cavities (15) and fixed on or above a cylin-
drical float (29), the said cylindrical shell working through a circular aperture in
a horizontal plate or division (10), substantially as herein-before described with
reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
14. The separate controller, having a bag or receptacle (38) of a flexible material,
to contain air or gas and to be loaded by weights or liquid for the purpose of
adjusting the pressure in gas governor floats, substantially as herein-before described
with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
15. The combination of two gas holders and their tanks and accessory details,
for testing the density or quality of illuminating or other gas by comparing its
rate of flow through an orifice with that of atmospheric air or another gas, the parts
being arranged substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figure 13
of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Bruce Peebles, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
D. BRUCE PEEBLES. (L.S.)