IMPROVE- MENTS IN REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Rene le Mire de Normandy, of Judd
Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM."
Sealed the 26th July 1858, and dated the 26th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse Rene le
Mire de Normandy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 26th May 1853.
I, ALPHONSE RENE LE MIRE DE NORMANDY, of Judd Street, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM" to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists of employing a valve apparatus between a
steam boiler and a vessel or vessels or chambers in which the steam is
to be used at a lower pressure than that at which it is generated. The
apparatus may be arranged in such manner that several processes, each
requiring a different pressure of steam, may have the steam supplied
from one and the same boiler. The valve in each apparatus is con-
nected to a flexible surface of such dimensions compared with the size
of the valve (which closes the passage between the boiler and the

page_text: apparatus where thes team is to be used) as will, by the lesser pressure
of the steam therein close the valve, and prevent a further incoming of
steam from the boiler so long as the steam remains at the desired pres-
sure; but so soon as the lesser pressure of steam on the larger area will
not sustain the valve in its seat, a fresh influx of steam will be admitted
and make up for the decreased pressure, and thus will be maintained a
constant supply of steam at the pressure desired to each vessel or
chamber where the steam is used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de Normandy in the
Great Seal Patent Office, on the 16th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ALPHONSE RENE LE MIRE DE NORMANDY, of Judd Street, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de Normandy,
Her special licence that I, the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de
Normandy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alphone Rene le Mire de Normandy, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGU-
LATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de Normandy, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great

page_text: 5
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de
Normandy, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of employing a valve apparatus between a
steam boiler and a vessel or vessels or chambers in which the steam is
to be used at a lower pressure than that at which it is generated. The
apparatus may be arranged in such manner that several processes, each
requiring a different pressure of steam, may have the steam supplied
from one and the same boiler. The valve in each apparatus is con-
nected to a flexible surface of such dimensions compared with the size
of the valve (which closes the passage between the boiler and the
apparatus where the steam is to be used) as will, by the lesser pressure
of the steam thereon, close the valve, and prevent a further incoming
of steam from the boiler so long as the steam remains at the desired
pressure; but so soon as the lesser pressure of steam on the larger arca
will not sustain the valve in its seat, a fresh influx of steam will be
admitted and make up for the lecreased pressure, and thus will be
maintained a constant supply of steam at the pressure desired to each
vessel or chamber where the steam is used.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, is an elevation of the apparatus. A, is a valve interposed
between the boiler and the apparatus where the steam is to be used. B,
L
pipe in communication with the boiler in which the steam is at a
B', is
higher pressure than that required for a particular purpose.
Da small chamber under the valve A. C, space over the valve in com-
munication with the pipe II, and closed at the top by a cover D, of
vulcanized india-rubber or other flexible substance, equal to resist the
lower pressure, screwed firmly and kept in place between the flanges
E, and F. G, a lever with a weight adjusted to the pressure required.

page_text: H, a pipe leading the steam from the boiler to the apparatus where it
may be required at a lower pressure. I, and 1', nuts between which
the india-rubber or flexible surface is screwed to the shaft or shank of
the valve. The action of the valve is as follows:-Suppose the steam
in the boiler and pipe B, to be at a higher pressure than is required in
the pipe H, and the apparatus to which it leads if there were no
lever G, it is clear that the pressure of that steam would at once close
the valve, and thus prevent any steam from passing into the space C₁
and thence into pipe H. But the lever G, loaded with a suitable
weight, will keep the valve down so as to allow the steam to pass from
B, to H. As soon, however, as the steam in H, will, together with the
pressure, on the valve lift the lever and its weight, the valve will close
the passage of the steam between B, and C, until such time when the
pressure in H, has again diminished, will again allow the lever and its
weight to press down the valve A, so as to re-establish communication
between B, and C.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de Nor-
mandy, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day
of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
A. NORMANDY. (L.S.)