Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 16th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
I JOSEPH BREEDEN of New Mill Works Fazeley Street Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
-
My improvements have reference principally to automatic valves for gas cooking or
heating stoves but are also in part applicable to valves generally for regulating the
flow of gas and the combined flow of gas and water.
I will first describe those of my improvements which are specially applicable to
gas cooking or heating stoves. The body of the valve consists of a cylindrical or
conical barrel screwed on the gas supply pipe. In the said cylindrical or conical
barrel a cylindrical or conical plug fits. This plug besides being capable of a rotary
motion is also capable of a sliding motion or a motion in the line of its axis. The
said plug has at bottom an inverted cone which when the plug is depressed seats
itself on a conical seat at the bottom of the body and on the top of the supply gas
pipe. When the plug is depressed the gas is shut off. In the plug is one or more
nearly vertical passages (according to the number of burners supplied through the
valve) through which vertical passages the gas ascends and passes by lateral passages
to the pipes conveying the gas to the burner or burners. At the top of the plug is a
thumb plate or handle by which the plug can be turned through a greater or less
angle from its normal position and the gas passing to the burners more or less cut off.
One arm of a lever engages in a neck at the top of the plug the other arm of the said
lever being connected with the support on which the vessel or article to be heated is
placed.
The action of the parts is as follows:-When no vessel or article is on the support
above the burner the plug is in its lowest position and the gas is cut off. When a
vessel or article to be heated is placed on the support over the burner its weight acting
through the lever described raises the plug. Gas is thereby permitted to pass through
the valve and by turning the thumb plate or handle described the quantity passing to
the burner or burners may be regulated.
Ju in neovided with a pilot or torch light of the ordinary kind.

page_text: The plug may be inverted in which case the conical valve and its seat are also
inverted and a coiled spring presses the said valve to its seat and raises the plug. The
support over the burner in this case bears upon the top of the plug and when a vessel
or article to be heated is placed on the said support the plug is depressed and the
valve opened. The other parts are substantially the same as those already described.
Where several burners of different sizes are supplied with gas through the same
valve one or more of the said burners or any combinations of them may be brought
into operation at pleasure by the following arrangement. The plug works in a case
having in it a series of apertures opening into the passages to the burners. The body
of the valve has in it a series of passages of different lengths and of the respective
heights of the openings in the case. The apertures in the plug are so arranged that
when the said plug is in one position only one of its apertures is opposite one of the
passages to the burners. By turning the plug through a greater or less angle any
desired combination of apertures in the plug and passages to the burners may be
arranged. To facilitate the working of the valve it may be provided with an index
lever by which it may be turned and which indicates on a dial plate underneath it the
combination of burners which are supplied at different angles.
For regulating the supply of gas in an ordinary burner I employ the plug and
barrel described but fix then preferably in a horizontal position. The end of the
plug is cut away on one side into an incline and when the plug is turned so that the
uncutaway part is downwards the small pilot light or torch light is not cut off but
when the said part is upwards the pilot light is cut off and the flame completely
extinguished. By keeping the uncutaway part of the plug downwards the pilot light
is kept burning and by drawing out the plug more or less by means of a button at its
end more or less gas is permitted to flow to the burner. Thus a flame may be obtained
of any size from a maximum to a minimum or all the gas may be cut off excepting
that supplying the pilot light or the pilot light may also be cut off and the Hame
wholly extinguished.
In valves for regulating the flow of gas and water as in heating water by means of
gas for baths and other purposes I employ a conical valve and seat for the water to
pass through. The valve is pressed to its seat by a coiled spring. The stem of the
valve projects upwards and passes through a flexible diaphragm. The summit of the
stem of the water valve terminates immediately under the gas valve which is similar
in construction to the water valve but is smaller. When by opening the water inlet
the water valve is raised from its seat its stem presses up the gas valvo raising it from
its seat and permitting the flow of gas to the burner by which the current of water is
-heated. The shutting off of the water effects the simultaneous shutting off of the
gas.
A
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
4

page_text: Improvements in Valves for Regulating the Flow of Gas and Water.
I JOSEPH BREEDEN of New Mill Works, Fazeley Street, Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:-
My improvements have reference principally to automatic valves for gas cooking
or heating stoves but are also in part applicable to valves generally for regulating the
flow of gas and the combined flow of gas and water.
I will first describe those of my improvements which are specially applicable to gas
cooking or heating stoves. The body of the valve consists of a cylindrical or conical
barrel screwed on the gas supply pipe. In the said cylindrical or conical barrel a
cylindrical or conical plug fits. This piug besides being capable of a rotary motion
is also capable of a sliding motion or a motion in the line of its axis. The said plug
bas at bottom an inverted cone which when the plug is depressed seats itself on a
conical seat at the bottom of the body and on the top of the supply gas pipe. When
the plug is depressed the gas is shut off. In the plug is one or more nearly vertical
passages (according to the number of burners supplied through the valve) through
which vertical passages the gas ascends and passes by lateral passages to the pipes
conveying the gas to the burner or burners. At the top of the plug is a thumb plate
or handle by which the plug can be turned through a greater or less angle from its
normal position and the gas passing to the burners more or less cut off. One arm of
a lever engages in a neck at the top of the plug the other arm of the said lever
being connected with the support on which the vessel or article to be heated is
placed.
The action of the paris is as follows. When no vessel or article is on the support
above the burner the plug is in its lowest position and the gas is cut off. When a
vessel or article to be heated is placed on the support over the burner, its weight
acting through the lever described raises the plug. Gas is thereby permitted to pass
through the valve and by turning the thumb plate or handle described the quantity
passing to the burner or burners may be regulated.
The valve is provided with a pilot or torch light of the ordinary kind.
The plug may be inverted in which case the conical valve and its seat are also
inverted and a coiled spring presses the said valve to its scat and raises the plug.
The support over the burner in this case bears upon the top of the plug and when a
vessel or article to be heated is placed on the said support the plug is depressed and
the valve opened. The other parts are substantially the same as those already
described.
Where several burners of different sizes are supplied with gas through the same
valve one or more of the said burners or any combination of them may be brought
into operation at pleasure by the following arrangement. The plug works in a case
having in it a series of apertures opening into the passages to the burners. The
body of the valve has in it a series of passages of the respective heights of the openings

page_text: in the case.
The apertures in the plug are so arranged that when the said plug is in
one position only one of its apertures is opposite one of the passages to the burners.
By turning the plug through a greater or less angle any desired combination of
apertures in the plug and passages to the burners may be arranged. To facilitate the
working of the valve it may be provided with an index lever by which it may be
turned and which indicates on a dial plate underneath it the combination of burners
which are supplied at different angles.
In regulating the supply of gas in an ordinary burner I employ the plug and
barrel described but fix them preferably in a horizontal position. The end of the
plug is cut away on one side into an incline and when the plug is turned so that the
uncutaway part is downwards the small pilot light or torch light is not cut off but
when the said part is upwards the pilot light is cut off and the flame completely
extinguished. By keeping the uncutaway part of the plug downwards the pilot
light is kept burning and by drawing out the plug by means of a button at its end
the desired quantity of gas is permitted to flow to the burner. Thus, a flaine of any
required size may be obtained or the gas may be cut off excepting that supplying the
pilot light; or the pilot light may also be cut off and the flame wholly extinguished.
In valves for regulating the flow of gas and water as in heating water by means of
gas for baths and other purposes, I employ a conical valve and seat for the water to
pass through. The valve is pressed to its seat by a coiled spring. The stem of the
valve projects upwards and passes through a flexible diaphragın. The summit of the
stem of the water valve terminates immediately under the gas valve which is similar
in construction to the water valve but is smaller. When by opening the water inlet,
the water valve is raised from its seat its stem presses up the gas valve raising it from
its seat and permitting the flow of gas to the burner by which the current of water
is heated. The shutting off of the water effects the simultaneous shutting off of
the gas.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents an automatic valve constructed according to my invention
applied to a gas cooking or heating stove, the said valve being closed when its plug is
depressed and opened when its plug is raised.
Figure 2 represents an automatic valve constructed according to my invention
applied to a gas cooking or heating stove, the said valve being closed when its plug is
raised and opened when its plug is depressed.
Figures 3 and 4 represent elevations taken at right angles to one another; Figuro 5
in plan; Figure 6 in vertical section and Figure 7 in horizontal section the automatic
valve represented in Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale.
b
r
a is the barrel of the valve, conical internally, screwed on the gas supply pipe b;
c is the conical plug fitting in the conical barrel a, the inverted cone d at the bottom
of the said plug seating itself when depressed on the conical seat e in the gas supply
pipe (see Figure 6); is the exit pipe at the side of the barrel a connected with
the burner y (see Figure 1) of the gas cooking or heating stove. The said plug c
has a rotary motion for bringing the gas way or passage in it opposite to or for
removing the said gas way from opposite the gas way in the barrel b in connection
with the exit pipe and the said plug has also a sliding motion or a motion in the
line of its axis. To the top of the plug e the cap h is affixed, the said cap carrying a
thumb plate or handle i working in the cut away part & on the exterior of the barrel a
the ends of the said cut away part constituting stops for the thumb plate or handle i.
By means of the said handle the plug e can be turned through a greater or less
angle. When the handle is in the position indicated at 2, Figure 5, and the plug is
in its raised position the gas is fully on. When the handle is turned into the
middle position represented in continuous lines in Figure 5 the gas is nearly shut off
and when the handle is turned into the position indicated at 3 Figure 5 the gas is fully
shut off. The valve is provided with a pilot or torch light of the ordinary kind. The cap
fixed to the plug e has a neck with which a lever engages for raising and lowering the
said plug. The manner in which the plug is operated will be understood by referring

page_text: to the gas cooking or heating stove represented in Figure 1; 12 is the lever of the
stove turning on the centre 13. The forked end of the arm of the lever engages
with the neck part of the cap h of the valve plug c and the other arm of the lever
is situated under the support m over the burner g on which support the vessel or
article to be heated is placed. By means of the sliding balance weight a fixed by the
set screw on the arm of the lever the said arm descends when the stove is not
in use.
When no vessel or article is on the support m above the burner the plug c
is pressed down by the weighted arm of the lever as represented in Figures 1, 3
and 6 and the valve is closed and the gas cut off (excepting for the pilot light) by
the conical end of the plug c seating itself on the seat e. When a vessel or article to
be heated is placed on the support m its weight acting upon the lever 1, 2 raises the
arm 2 of the lever and the plug e connected with it. The plug is thereby lifted from
the seat e and the valve is opened and gas passes through the exit pipe to the
burner 9. In Figure 4 the plug is represented in the last described position and the
valve open. By turning the handle i more or less from its normal position the quantity
of gas passing to the burner y may be regulated.
Figure 8 represents in elevation with the plug depressed and Figure 9 in section
with the plug raised, a valve of the last described kind excepting that in place of a
conical plug a plug e dome shaped near its top is used, the dome part seating
itself when raised for opening the valve against a concave seat in the top of the
barrel a.
Figuro 10 represents in elevation and Figure 11 in section another automatic valve
of the last described kind in which a cylindrical plug e and barrel a² are used. The
barrel has two exit pipes for supplying two burners and the plug has two gas ways
for communicating with the gas ways in connection with the two exit pipes. In this
valve the plug is turned by the handle p the quantity of gas passing through the valve
boing regulated by the arm q on the collar or disc 2 working in a cut away part in
the screw cap of the barrel. The arm of the stove lever engages between the handle p
and collar or disc q². The action of this valve is the same as that first described.
Figure 12 represents in elevation and Figure 13 in section the automatic valve
applied to the stove Figure 2 the said valve being closed when the plug is raised and
opened when the plug is depressed. In this valve an inverted conical plug and a
separate conical valve d² are used the said valve d² being pressed up to its seat at e in
the barrel a by the coiled spring r.. When the valve d' is raised to its seat it raises
the plug e. Made in one piece with the plug c is the cap and regulating arm i.
The way in which the valve Figures 12 and 13 is automatically operated from the
stove is illustrated in Figure 2. In the stove Figure 2 a single arm lever s
turning on the centres is used, the free end of the said levers bearing upon
the cap of the plug cf. The levers is pressed upwards by the spring t. The top of
a rod at the middle of the lever s is pressed upon by the support m over the burner g.
When the stove is not in use the levers does not press down the plug e and the valve
is consequently closed as represented in Figures 2, 12 and 13. When a vessel or
article to be heated is placed on the support m the levers is depressed and with it the
plug c and valve d². The valve is thereby opened and gas passes by the exit pipe f
to tho burner as herein before described.
Figure 14 represents in vertical section and Figure 15 in horizontal section an
automatic valve constructed according to my invention for supplying gas to a cooking
or heating stove having several burners of different sizes; Figure 16 represents the
plug of the valve detached and Figure 17 is a diagram of the opened out plug
illustrating the shape and position of the several gas ways or passages in it. The
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17. This
valve is opened by the lifting of the plug and closed by the descent of the plug as in
the first described automatic valve and the several passages or ways in the said plug
are brought into operation by the rotation of the plug through the required angle as
herein after described; a is the plug which is hollow and bis the body or barrel of
the valve in which the said plug works.
In the said body or barrel b is a series of gas passages c, c one above the other,

page_text: opening respectively into the series of divided chambers d, e, f, g at one side of the
body or barrel of the valve. A pipe h from each of the said chambers is connected
with the burners of the stove, the largest burner being supplied from the lowest
chamber d and burners of progressively diminishing sizes being supplied from the
chambers situated above the lowest one. In the hollow plug a several sets of gas
ways and single gas ways for supplying different sets of burners and single burners
are made. The first set of gas ways marked i consists of four ways one above the
other; the second set k consists of three ways; the next set of two ways followed by
a single way m. In the other gas ways of the plug the lowest and largest gas way is
omitted and the several gas ways are arranged as represented; that is, one set
marked n consists of three ways; the next set p of two ways of intermediate size; the
next set 9 consists of two ways, one of intermediate size and the other of the smallest
size. These are followed by a single way of large size another single ways of an
intermediate size and another single way t of the smallest size. By turning the
plug a through the required angle by means of the lever or handle u attached to the
spindle of the plug any set of gas ways in it, or one of the single gas ways, can be
made to coincide with the set of gas ways e c in the body or barrel 6 or with one or
more of the said gas ways c, e so as to supply gas to the whole of the four burners in
connection with the stove; or to three two or one only of the said burners. For
example in Figures 14 and 15 the plug a is represented in such a position that the set
of four gas ways i, i in it aro opposite the set of four gas ways c, c'in the barrel of the
valve so that all the burners will be supplied with gas on lifting the plug a and opening
the gas supply pipo 63, the largest burner of the stove being supplied with gas from
the lowest gas way of the set and the burners of progressively diminishing size being
supplied from the gas ways above it. When the plug is turned so as to bring the gas
ways k, k, k in it opposite the gas ways c, c in the barrel gas will now bo supplied to
three burners the smallest burner being out of use. When the plug is turned so as to
bring the gas ways II in it opposite the gas ways c, c two burners of the largest size
will be supplied with gas and when the plug is turned so as to bring the single gas
way m opposite the lowest gas way c in the barrel the largest burner will only be
supplied with
gas. In like manner the sets of gas ways and single gas ways n, p, q,
, s, in the other parts of the plug a can be brought in succession opposite the gas
ways c, c in the barrel when the largest burner is not required to be brought into use
and three burners or two burners of smallest size or single burners of different sizes
from that supplied by the gas way m are required to be supplied with gas.
The handle or lever u by which the plug is turned traverses a dial plate underneath
it carried by the fixed part of the valve, the said handle or lever u indicating on the
said dial the combination of burners or the singlo burner which are or is being
supplied at the different angles of the said lever. The lever u has a jointed fore
end u which can be turned down on its joint so as to cause a depression in its
underside to take upon a projection y on the fixed plate for securing the position of
the said lever. The plug a is raised to open the valve by the jointed arm engaging
between the collars a², a² on the plug spindle the said arm a being lifted by the
lever of the stove in the manner herein before described and illustrated in
Figure 1.
Figure 18 represents in vertical section a valve of the kind last described but is
opened by the descent of the plug acting upon a separate spring valve as before
described with respect so Figures 2, 12 and 13, the pressing down arm which acts
upon the top of the plug being operated through the stove lever which is of the
kind shown in Figure 2. The plug of the valve Figure 18 is inverted and the largest
gas ways are situated at the top of the plug instead of at bottom as in the arrangement
Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Figure 19 represents in side elevation and Figures 20 and 21 in longitudinal
vertical section a valve constructed according to my invention for regulating the
supply of gas in an ordinary burner Figure 22 represents the plug detached. In
Figure 20 the small pilot light is represented in use and in Figure 21 the full supply
of gas is passing to the burner. In Figure 19 the small pilot light is cut off.

page_text: The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22.
a is the barrel of the valve screwed at 6 to the gas supply pipe; c is the plug working
gas tight in the said barrel and e is the handle (or button) by which the plug can be
rotated in the barrel or pushed in the barrel to the position Figure 20 or drawn
outwards to the position Figure 21. The burner is screwed to the valve at f. In the
barrel are two gas ways and the smaller gas way h supplying the pilot light and
both ways supplying the full quantity of gas to the burner. The end of the plug e is
conical and when pushed home in the barrel 6 seats itself in the conical seat in the
said barrel. One side of the plug e near its inner end is cut away at d into an
incline.
When the plug is pushed home into the position shown in Figure 20 its conical end
closes the main gas way g but by turning the plug after it has been pushed inwards so
that its uncut away part is downwards the incline d is brought opposite the small gas
way h and also opposite the gas way to the burner at f as represented in Figure 20.
Gas can consequently pass by the small gas way and incline or cut away part d'in
the plug to the burner and a small pilot light is obtained. By turning the plug by
its handle e through a semi circle as represented in Figure 19 the cut away part d in
the plug is now downwards and the pilot light is cut off and the flame completely
extinguished. By drawing out the plug e into the position represented in Figure 21,
the cut away part d in it being upwards, the full supply of gas is permitted to pass to
the burner. By turning the plug c through a semi circle, when in the position
Figure 21, the gas is wholly extinguished by the uncut away part of the plug closing
the vertical gas way to the burner at f. By means of a screw pin i passing into the
gas way g the said gas way may be more or less obstructed and a flame of the required
size obtained.
Figure 23 represents in elevation and Figure 24 in vertical section a valve
constructed according to my invention for regulating the flow of gas and water for
baths and other purposes. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in
both Figures: k is the barrel of the water valve and the barrel of the gas valve
screwed together at m; n is the entrance pipe to the water barrel k and the outlet
or exit pipe; p is the entrance pipe to the gas barrel and p² the exit pipe; is the
conical valve in the water barrel k and is the seat for the same; is the conical
valve in the gas barrel and 2 is the seat for the said valve. The stem or stalk of the
water valve is packed at q3 or passes through a flexible diaphragm in the barrel so
as to work water tight therein and the two valves q, r are connected together by an
adjustable connection so that they can be separated from each other or brought nearer
together for the purpose of making them accurately seat themselves upon their
respective seats. This connection is effected by the screws on the top of the gas
valve working in the screw box t at the bottom of the stem of the water valve. By
means of the coiled spring u the combined valves g and are pressed down to their
seats. This spring takes an abutment at bottom on the upper face of the gas
valve r and at top against the bottom of the fixed water barrel k as represented in
Figure 24.
T
By allowing water under pressure to pass through the entrance pipe n the water
valve is raised from its seat thereby permitting water to pass to the outlet pipe n
through the open seat. By the lifting of the water valve 7 the gas valve ris
simultaneously lifted from its seat thereby permitting the flow of gas from the inlet
pipe p through the open valve seat to the outlet pipe p² and from thence to the
burner by which the current of water is heated. By the raising of the gas valve the
spring is compressed. By shutting off the water from the inlet pipe n the upward
pressure is removed from the water valve 9 and the two valves are closed by their own
weight combined with the pressure of the compressed spring u. The gas is thereby
shut off simultaneously with the shutting off of the water.
To the bottom of the compound valve a dripping cup or vessel x is screwed in
which cup or vessel any water drippings from the water valve are collected. The said
cup is furnished with an internal pipe y in connection with the water passage 2 in
the barrel of the gas valve. Should any water escape from the water barrel k by

page_text: defective packing or otherwise it passes by the way to the pipe y and fills the
dripping cup or vessel z. When the dripping cup is full it is indicated by water
escaping from the top of the outside pipe on the dripping cup the bottom of which
pipe opens into the said cup as represented in Figure 24. The dripping cup
full is unscrewed from the compound valve and emptied and replaced.
when
The water valve may be situated under the gas valve instead of above it as described
and represented. When the two valves are arranged as last described no dripping cup
or vessel is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim
as my invention of "Improvements in valves for regulating the flow of gas and
water."
First The combination of the parts of the automatic gas valves hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 13 hoth inclusive of the accompanying
Drawings; that is to say, the combination of the sliding and rotary plugs (used alone
or in conjunction with looso valves) with barrels and appliances of the kinds described
and represented for opening and closing the valve and for regulating the quantity of
gas passing through the valve.
Secondly The combination of the parts of the automatic gas valves hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the accompanying
Drawings for supplying gas to one or a series of burners of different sizes; that is to
say, the combination of the plug opening the valve either by an upward or downward
motion and having gas ways or passages arranged in it substantially as described and
illustrated, with the gas ways and chambers in the body or barrel of the valve the
angular motion of the plug being made to supply gas to singlo burners of different
sizes or to sets of burners of different sizes in the manner and substantially as described
and illustrated.
Thirdly The combination of the parts of the valve for regulating the supply of
gas in an ordinary burner herein before described and illustrated in Figures 19, 20 21
and 22 of the accompanying Drawings; that is to say, the combination of the
conical plug (capable of a sliding motion and a rotary motion in its barrel) having
an incline or cut away part at one side, with the barrel of the valve having in it
gas ways or passages of the kind and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated.
Fourthly The combination of the parts of the compound water and gas valve for
baths and other purposes herein before described and illustrated in Figures 23 and 24
of the accompanying Drawings, whereby the opening and closing of the water valve
effects the simultaneous opening and closing of the gas valve substantially as described
and illustrated.
11 1
P T
1000