Improvements in Gas Pressure Regulators.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
IRUVIDIONAD
Improvements in Gas Pressure Regulators.
A communication from abroad by Dr. DARIUS WILSON, of 620, Atlantic Avenue,
Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, one of the
United States of America.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:
This invention relates to improvements in gas pressure regulators which are
placed intermediate of the supply main and the distributing pipes of a house, etc.
It has for its object the provision of such a device as will automatically control
the supply of gas and which will allow it to expand so that it will enter the
distributing pipes at a comparatively low pressure, whereby a more perfect
combustion will be secured and a consequent saving. Ordinarily the gas enters
the distributing pipes directly from the supply main and leaves the burners under
a pressure which is the same and varies with that of the supply main. Often the
pressure in the main is too great to allow a complete combustion, some of the gas
being forced through the flame and allowed to escape, and the pressure fluctuates
to such an extent as to give a very unsteady light. It is the object of the present
invention to overcome these objections by feeding the gas to the burners at such a
low pressure and in such a volume as to insure a complete combustion and a steady
and regular flame.
It also has for its object the provision of such a device as will be of a cheap
and simple construction and at the same time efficient in its purpose.
The invention consists essentially of a base and a casing fixed thereon, both of
which are divided by partitions into a series of expansion chambers and a fluid
chamber in the latter, the first of the expansion chambers being connected with
an inlet pipe and the last with an outlet pipe and all of the series being successively
connected, the opening leading from the first into the second being controlled by
an automatically operated valve, a float placed in the fluid chamber the buoyancy
of which varies as the pressure of the gas in the expansion chambers being the
means for operating the valve.
The regulator is placed intermediate of the meter and the supply pipe.
The base
The regulator consists of a base portion and the casing fixed thereon.
portion consists of a cylindrical wall of but comparatively little height and of the
top and bottom plates. It is divided by a horizontal partition into two expansion
chambers, the lower of which, connects with the inlet pipe and the upper, with the
outlet pipe. The inlet pipe may connect the chamber into which it empties with
the meter and the outlet pipe connect the chamber from which it leads with the
supply pipe leading to the burners.
The casing consists of the cylindrical wall of much greater height and of a
somewhat shorter diameter than that of the base and is placed eccentrically on
the latter, away from the inlet and outlet pipes to give more room to the said
pipes than would be given if the relative positions were concentric. A plate forms
the top of the casing and is removably secured thereon so that access to the
interior of the machine can be had for the purposes of inspection, cleaning, or
other attention. Within the casing and concentric with the same the partition is
It can
placed. It has a form substantially the same as the frustrum of a cone.
This partition
be cylindrical however, but the conical form is the preferable one.

page_text: divides the casing into the fluid chamber and the expansion chamber, the former
chamber being enclosed between the said partition and the wall of the casing and
the latter chamber by the partition itself. In the fluid chamber glycerine is
placed. The space above the glycerine is to be considered as being an expansion
chamber also. The expansion chambers thus formed connect with each other and
are connected with the inlet chamber of the base by the pipe and the chamber
connects with the outlet chamber through the opening in the plate.
Within the fluid chamber is placed the float. It consists of a cylindrical wall
having a diameter less than the wall of the casing and of a top plate. The float
encloses the two upper expansion chambers for a purpose which will be explained
hereinafter. It automatically operates to open or close the valve which controls
the opening leading from the inlet chamber of the base and the pipe. The valve
consists of the male portion of a hemispherical shape supported within the chamber
by the wire, which connects it with the float by passing upwards through the
pipe. The valve seat is formed in the partition. The wire passes through the
spider near the valve so that a proper register of the latter will be secured.
The float is prevented from adhering to the casing by the rollers attached to
the wall of the casing. Instead of the rolls ball bearings may be used. At times,
when the pressure upon the glycerine inside of the float is great enough it will
rise to a sufficient height to cover the rolls and thereby lubricate the same.
proper adjustment of the float is secured by the weights.
The
The operation of the device is as follows. Assuming the necessary connections
to have been made and the float in its normal position, that is depressed so that
the valve governing the opening leading from the lower chamber will be open, the
gas passes from the lower chamber into which it enters from the supply pipe
through the pipe into the expansion chambers. In these latter chambers the gas
collects and when the pressure becomes great enough, by pressing upon the
glycerine and thereby increasing the buoyancy of the float the latter will rise and
close the valve and consequently the flow of gas. The quickness with which the
float acts depends upon the extent to which it has been weighted. The gas which
has passed into the expansion chambers will expand therein and pass through the
openings into the upper chamber from which it passes to the pipe supplying the
burners.
The gas in its passage through the machine enters several large expanding
chambers. In its passage through these chambers the gas becomes thoroughly
expanded and enters the supply pipe at a comparatively low and regular pressure.
Owing to the aggregate size of the openings being much smaller than that of the
opening leading from the chamber the gas in the chamber will be under much
less pressure than that in the preceding chambers and therefore will be more
thoroughly expanded. By this means a uniform supply of gas to the burners at a
comparatively low pressure is secured, which will insure an almost perfect
combustion and consequently an economical usage.
According to a modified construction only differing somewhat in the number and
arrangement of the dividing partitions:-the base is divided by the partition into
inlet and outlet chambers respectively. The casing is divided by the vertical
cylindrical partition and the horizontal partition into expansion chambers and fluid
chamber. In the fluid chamber the float is placed and is connected with and
operates the valve which controls the opening leading from the inlet chamber into
the pipe which connects with the expansion chamber. The operation of the float
in this instance is the same as in the preceding one. The openings in the
partitions are successively smaller as compared with each other and with the
opening leading into the expansion chamber.
According to another modification a slight difference in the arrangement of the
partitions, the construction of the float and valve operation of the latter is made.
It consists of a base divided by the partition into inlet and outlet chambers
respectively and of the casing divided by the vertical partition into the expansion
chambers and the fluid chambers. The expansion chambers of the base of the

page_text: casing successively open into each other.
In the fluid chamber is placed the
float. The latter has in its upper part the expansion chamber formed by
the partition. This chamber is connected with the chamber by the pipe. In this
instance the male portion of the valve is held stationary by the said pipe and the
female portion is supported by the partition. The valve in this instance is
operated by the pressure of the gas upon the fluid which increases the buoyancy of
the float, which is weighted as to normally be in a depressed position, so that it
will rise and bring the two parts of the valve together and thereby cut off the
flow of gas into the machine. When the gas in the chamber ceases to exert the
pressure necessary to so weight the float as to overcome any tendency of the same
to remain in a raised position by reason of the force exerted by the pressure of
the main upon the top plate of the float being greater than on the plate. In a
general way, however, the operation in this instance is the same as in the
previous ones.
Dated the 16th day of May 1893
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Pressure Regulators.
A communication from abroad by Dr. DARIUS WILSON, of 620, Atlantic Avenue,
Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, one of the
United States of America.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Loudon Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
:
This invention relates to improvements in gas pressure regulators which are
placed intermediate of the supply main and the distributing pipes of a house,
etcetera. It has for its object the provision of such a device as will automatically
control the supply of gas and which will allow it to expand so that it will enter the
distributing pipes at a comparatively low pressure, whereby a more perfect
combustion will be secured and a consequent saving. Ordinarily the gas enters
the distributing pipes directly from the supply main and leaves the burners under a
pressure which is the same and varies with that of the supply main. Often the
pressure in the main is too great to allow a complete- combustion, some of the gas
being forced through the flame and allowed to escape, and the pressure fluctuates 10
such an extent as to give a very unsteady light. It is the object of the present
invention to overcome these objections by feeding the gas to the burners at such a
low pressure and in such a volume as to insure a complete combustion and a steady
and regular flame.
It also has for its object the provision of such a device as will be of a cheap and
simple construction and at the same time efficient in its purpose.
The invention consists essentially of a base and a casing fixed thereon, both of
which are divided by partitions into a series of expansion chambers and a fluid
chamber in the latter, the first of the expansion chambers being connected with an
inlet pipe and the last with an outlet pipe and all of the series being successively
connected, the opening leading from the first into the second being controlled by
an automatically operated valve, a float placed in the fluid chamber the buoyancy
of which varies as the pressure of the gas in the expansion chambers being the
means for operating the valve.
It also consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts

page_text: such as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the appended claims
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference designate
corresponding parts,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device shewing it connected with a meter' and
a supply pipe, being placed intermediate of the same.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of a regulator embodying the invention,
the valve being shown in an opened position and the course taken by the gas
indicated by arrows.
Figure 3 is a similar view of a modification in which a slight difference in the
arrangement of the partitions is shown.
Figure 4 is also a similar view of a second modification showing another arrange-
ment of partitions and also a differently constructed valve.
Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the meter, B the regulator and
C the supply pipe leading to the burners, the regulator being placed intermediate
of the meter and the supply pipe. The construction of the meter and supply pipe
form no part of the invention but are shown in conjunction with the regulator to
illustrate the preferable arrangement of the same relatively to each other.
The regulator consists of the base portion D and the casing E fixed thereon.
The base portion consists of the cylindrical wall a of but comparatively little height
and of the top and bottom plates b and c respectively. It is divided by the
horizontal partition d into two expansion chambers, the lower of which, F, connects
with the inlet pipe e and the upper, G, with the outlet pipe f. In the present
instance the inlet pipe e is shown as connecting the chamber into which it empties
with the meter A and the outlet pipe f connecting the chamber from which it leads
with the supply pipe leading to the burners.
The casing E consists of the cylindrical wall y of much greater height and of a
somewhat shorter diameter than that of the base and is placed eccentrically on the
latter, away from the inlet and outlet pipes to give more room to the said pipes
than would be given if the relative positions were concentric. A plate forms the
top of the casing and is removably secured thereon so that access to the interior of
the machine can be had for the purposes of inspection, cleaning, or other attention
within the casing and concentric with the same the partition is placed. It has a
form substantially the same as the frustrum of a cone. It can be cylindrical
however, but the conical form is the preferable one. This partition divides the
casing into the fluid chamber H and the expansion chamber I, the former chamber
being enclosed between the said partition and the wall of the casing and the latter
chamber by the partition itself. In the fluid chamber glycerine is placed. The
space Jabove the glycerine is to be considered as being an expansion chamber
also. The expansion chambers thus formed connect with each other and are
connected with the inlet chamber of the base by the pipe k and the chamber I
connects with the outlet chamber through the opening 1,7, in the plate b.
Within the fluid chamber is placed the float K. It consists of a cylindrical
wall m having a diameter less than the wall g of the casing and of a top plate n.
The float encloses the two upper expansion chambers for a purpose which will be
explained hereinafter.
It automatically operates to open or close the valve which controls the opening
leading from the inlet chamber of the base and the pipe k. The valve consists of
the male portion o of a hemispherical shape supported within the chamber F by
the wire p, which connects it with the float by passing upwards through the pipe k.
The valve seat is formed in the partition d. The wire passes through the spider S
near the valve so that a proper register of the latter will be secured.
The float is prevented from adhering to the casing by the rollers s, s, attached to
the wall of the casing. Instead of the rolls ball bearings may be used. At times,
when the pressure upon the glycerine inside of the float is great enough it will rise
to a sufficient height to cover the rolls and thereby lubricate the same.
The proper
adjustment of the float is secured by the weights W, W.

page_text: It is to be observed that the aggregate size of the openings connecting the
chambers and G is smaller than that of the opening leading from the chamber F
into the chambers I and J. The purpose of this will be explained further on.
The operation of the device is as follows. Assuming the necessary connections.
to have been made and the float in its normal position, that is depressed so that the
valve governing the opening leading from the lower chamber F will be open, the
gas passes from the lower chamber F into which it enters from the supply pipe e
In these latter chambers
through the pipe into the expansion chambers I and J.
the gas collects and when the pressure becomes great enough, by pressing upon the
glycerine and thereby increasing the buoyancy of the float the latter will rise and
close the valve and consequently the flow of gas. The quickness with which the
float acts depends upon the extent to which it has been weighted. The gas which
has passed into the expansion chambers I and J will expand therein and pass.
through the openings 1,1, into the upper chamber G, from which it passes to the
pipe supplying the burners.
The gas in its passage through the machine enters several large expanding
chambers, namely the compartments F, I, J and G. In its passage through these
chambers the gas. becomes thoroughly expanded and enters the supply pipe at a
comparatively low and regular pressure. Owing to the aggregate size of the
openings 1,, being much smaller than that of the opening leading from the
chamber F the gas in the chamber G will be under much less pressure than that in
the preceding chambers and therefore will be more thoroughly expanded. By this.
means a uniform supply of gas to the burners at a comparatively low pressure is.
secured, which will insure an almost perfect combustion and consequently an.
economical usage.
In the modification shown in Figure 3, D' is the base and E' is the casing.
The construction is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 2, only
differing somewhat in the number and arrangement of the dividing partitions:
The base is divided by the partition into inlet and outlet chambers F and G
respectively. The casing is divided by the vertical cylindrical partition and
the horizontal partition into the expansion chambers I and J and the fluid
chamber H. In the fluid chamber the float K¹ is placed and is connected with and
operates the valve o' which controls the opening leading from the inlet chamber Fi
into the pipe k which connects with the expansion chamber I. The operation of
the float in this instance is the same as in the preceding one. The openings 11. 1,
in the partitions x and are successively smaller as compared with each other and
with the opening leading into the expansion chamber I¹. The gas in its passage.
through a machine of this construction will have a chance to more thoroughly
expand than it would in the one first described.
The modification shown in Figure 4 shows a slight difference in the arrangement
of the partitions, the construction of the float and valve operation of the latter.
It consists of the base D2 divided by the partition d² into inlet and outlet
chambers F and G2 respectively and of the casing E2 divided by the vertical
partition into the expansion chambers 12 and the fluid chambers H2. The
expansion chambers of the base of the casing successively open into each other.
In the fluid chamber is placed the float K². The latter has in its upper part the
expansion chamber 12 formed by the partition 2. This chamber is connected with
the chamber F by the pipe 2. In this instance the male portion of of the valve is
held stationary by the said pipe k² and the female portion is supported by the
partition. The valve in this instance is operated by the pressure of the gas upon
the fluid which increases the buoyancy of the float, which is weighted as to
normally be in a depressed position, so that it will rise and bring the two parts of
When
the valve together and thereby cut off the flow of gas into the machine.
the gas in the chambers 12 and H2 ceases to exert the pressure necessary to cause the
float to rise by reason of the outflowing of the same the valve is opened again. In
this instance it is necessary to so weight the float as to overcome any tendency of
the same to remain in a raised position by reason of the force exerted by the

page_text: pressure of the main upon the top plate of the float being greater than on the
plate. In a general way, however, the operation in this instance is the same as
in the previous ones.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a gas pressure regulator, the combination of the base, the casing fixed
thereon, the said base and casing being divided by partitions into a series of
expansion chambers successively connected, and the automatically operated valve
controlling the opening connecting two adjacent chambers, substantially as
described.
2. In a gas pressure regulator, the combination of the base divided by a partition
into an inlet and an outlet chamber, the casing secured thereon, the partition
dividing the said casing into expansion chamber and a fluid chamber, the said
expansion chambers connecting with each other and with the inlet and the outlet
chamber successively, and the valve controlling the opening leading from the inlet
chamber to the expansion chambers, and the float connected with the said valve,
substantially as described.
3. In a gas pressure regulator, the combination of the base, the partition dividing
the base into an inlet and an outlet chamber, the casing fixed thereon, the partition
dividing the casing into a fluid chamber and expansion chambers, the last mentioned
chambers being connected with each other and the outlet chamber of the base
successively, the pipe connecting the inlet chamber of the base with the expansion
chambers of the casing and having a valve seat formed in its lower end, the float
placed in the fluid chamber and the valve connected with the said float and adapted
to register with the said valve seat, substantially as described.
Dated the 12th day of February 1894.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.