Improved Apparatus for Electrically Controlling the Supply of Gas and other Fluids, and for like purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1896-Accepted. 12th Dec., 1896
Improved Apparatus for Electrically Controlling the Supply of Gas
and other Fluids, and for like purposes.
I, JAMES RANDOLPH COURTENAY GALE, M.A. Clerk in Holy Orders,
Egmont Road, Sutton, Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for electrically controlling the
supply of gas and fluids. It is carried out as follows:-In a suitable position I
mount an electromagnet, solenoid, or the like which is connected by conductors
with a battery or other source of electrical energy, the armature or core as the
case may be is suitably coupled to a valve or equivalent appliance for opening and
closing the supply of gas or fluid to the burner, burners, or branch pipe, or I may.
stop or open the supply of gas or fluid by means of the attraction or repulsion of
a valve or plunger and its seating, each being an electromagnet. I arrange, by
pivoting, or otherwise, a magnetic bar, or I may induce magnetism in a bar so placed
with regard to the armature or valve as that upon sending a current in one direction
or the other, the said bar is attracted or repelled as the case may be by the magnet
into such a position that it holds the valve open.
If any of the devices upon the circuit have failed to operate the valve, or valves,
a current may be sent through their coils without disturbing the others. On the
other hand by reversing the direction of the current every electromagnet in the
group or series is unlocked and the valve closed. I do not confine the application
of my invention to regulating the supply of gas to branch pipes or burners; when
suitably devised it is equally applicable to the governing of cocks or valves
regulating or controlling the passage of gases or liquids..
39.
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Improved Apparatus for Electrically Controlling the Supply of Gás
and other Fluids, and for like purposes.
I, JAMES, RANDOLPH COURTENAY GALE, M.A., Clerk in Holy Orders,
3, Egmont Road, Sutton, Surrey, 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 :—
My invention consists in improved apparatus for electrically controlling the
supply of gas and fluids. It is carried out as follows:-In a suitable position'
I mount an electromagnet, solenoid, or the like, which is connected by conductors
with a battery or other source of electrical energy, the armature or core as
the case may be is suitably coupled to a valve or equivalent appliance for opening
D

page_text: and closing the supply of gas or fluid to the burner, burners, or branch pipe, or I
may stop or open the supply of gas or fluid by means of the attraction or repulsion
of a valve or plunger and its seating, each being an electromagnet. I arrange, by
pivoting, or otherwise, a magnetic bar, or I may induce magnetism in a bar so
placed with regard to the armature or valve as that upon sending a current in one
direction or the other, the said bar is attracted or repelled as the case may be by
the magnet into such a position that it holds the valve open. If any of the devices
upon the circuit have failed to operate the valve, or valves, a current may be sent
through their coils without disturbing the others. On the other hand by reversing
the direction of the current every electromagnet in the group or series is unlocked
and the valve closed. I do not confine the application of my invention to regu-
lating the supply of gas to branch pipes or burners; when suitably devised it is
equally applicable to the governing of cocks or valves regulating or controlling the
passage of gases or liquids.
I will now proceed to describe the construction and operation of my invention
more particularly by means of the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1. is a vertical sectional elevation shewing one form of my invention fitted to
a gas pipe.
Fig. 2. shews a vertical section of a modification of my invention fitted with
rocking permanent magnet.
Fig. 3. shews a further modification of my invention operated by an ordinary
electromagnet having a bar armature.
Fig. 4. is a modification suited for control of liquids.
In Fig. 1. 1 is an ordinary threaded or equivalent form of gas pipe socket.
2 and 3 are pieces of gas pipe united thereto by screwing. 4 is a metal plate the
periphery of which is screwed with a similar thread to that within the socket. 5 is
a bobbin or spool around the lower part of which holes 5¹ are drilled. 6 is the
insulated wire wound thereon, the ends of which are led to any convenient part of
the socket or pipe and then brought out through bushes 7 of ebonite or other
insulating material driven or screwed therein. A hole 8 is drilled in the plate 4
and coned on its upper side so as to form a seat for the core of the solenoid 9 which
in this case forms the valve. A pin 10 fitted with a head 11 formed in the manner
shewn is screwed into the solid or stopped end of the core 9. 12 is a metallic
support for the needle 14, this is screwed or otherwise fastened in the manner
shewn into the plate 4. Near its lower end is formed a small forked bracket 13,
in which is pivoted or otherwise mounted an ordinary magnetic needle 14, the
extreme end of the support is turned round in the manner shewn at 15.
The operation of this form of my invention is as follows:-The plate 4 carrying
the complete apparatus is first screwed into the socket 1 and one or both of the
wires 6 as may be most convenient passed through an insulated collar or bush 7,
and are connected to the battery A. in the circuit of which for the purpose of
illustration I have included an ordinary reversing key B. This, however, may be
replaced by any suitable form of commutator. The core 9, which in this case
forms the valve, is shewn in the open position in which it is maintained by the
needle 14 which engages with the under side of the flanged head 11. Gas can now
pass through the pipe; see arrows. If by means of the reversing key shewn, a
commutator, or equivalent device, a current of either plus or minus sign is caused to
circulate round the coils of the solenoid, the core 9 will be raised. Should the
current thus sent be of such a nature as to repel the upper pole of the magnetic
needle 14 by the inductive effect of the solenoid, the needle will move away from
the head 11, and the valve will shut when the current ceases. If, however, a
current reverse to this be sent, the needle will be attracted towards the head 11,
and when the current ceases the core 9 will drop to the open position shewn.
In Fig. 2. I have shewn a modification of my invention fitted with a rocking
permanent magnet 14. The combined core and valve 9 being upon its seat and
the supply of gas or the like shut off. The permanent magnet 14 is pivoted as
shewn to the forked end of the pin 10. On passing a current. round the coils

page_text: of the bobbin the core 9 is raised and the supply of gas flows through the
valve. If the current sent is such as to repel the right hand pole of the needle 14
by the inductive effect of the solenoid the needle will engage with the support 12
and the core forming the valve will be held in the open position after the current
ceases. By reversing the current the end of the horse shoe magnet near to the
pin is attracted by the solenoid, and the valve falls upon its seat, the respective.
parts occupying the positions shewn.
Fig. 3. shews a form of my invention which may be employed for closing or
opening the valve, supplying a branch gas pipe or for any equivalent purpose.
16 is an electromagnet, 5 are the bobbins thereon which are filled with insulated
wire. 91 is an armature of the bar type which is secured to one end of the
rocking lever 17 pivoted to the frame 4, the other end of this lever is fitted with a
valve cover 18, which, when the co-operating parts are in the position shewn covers.
the aperture 8. Pivoted to the frame 4 is a bar permanent magnet 14. If a
current of either sign is sent round the coils of the electromagnet 16 the armature 91
is attracted and the valve opened, the bar needle 14 is as in the previous forms of
my invention influenced by the direction of the current, and as shewn is drawn
aside from the valve seating. When, however, it is desired to turn on the supply the
direction of the current sent round the coils is such as to cause the pivoted.
permanent magnet to place itself in a line with the lever, and between the valve
cover and its seating, the gas will now flow into the reducing elbow 19. On the
other hand, a current reverse to that last sent will cause it to take the position
shewn, the valve will close and the supply be shut off. It will be understood that.
the slight lifting of the bar armature releases the needle and enables it to respond
to the inductive influence.
In the case of liquids I may employ the modification of my invention shewn in
outline in Fig. 4. In this I mount an electromagnet or solenoid, as may be most
convenient, upon a bracket cast upon the main or supply pipe 20. A. rod 10 passes
through a stuffing box 21, and is attached to the bar armature 91. The needle 14
is pivoted to a bracket 12, forming part of bracket 22 which also carries the
electromagnet. The valve is shewn in the open position in which it is maintained
by the position of the needle. It will be understood that for this purpose heavier
currents than can be obtained with certainty from a battery will be required, such
may however be supplied from a direct current street main, secondary battery,.
dynamo machine or the like.
I have shewn the various forms of my invention connected in series, so that it
may be more clearly seen that should one or more than one of the controlling.
devices fail to act, a current of one direction may be sent through it or their coils
without affecting the others. Any form of the apparatus may however be used
singly, or be connected in parallel or any other manner best suited to economise
It will also be
the current, which may be derived from any suitable source.
understood that I may modify the particular arrangement of parts to suit varying
conditions.
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 :-
1. In apparatus for electrically controlling the supply of gas and other fluids or
liquids the combination and use therewith of a magnetic locking device operated by
currents of a reverse direction for the purpose of holding the regulating valve in.
the open or reverse position substantially as herein described.
2. The combination and use with the pipes conveying gas or liquids of a
magnetic or polarized regulating device mounted on or within the same and
connected to a battery or equivalent source of electrical energy operating in the-
way and manner shewn.
3. In apparatus for electrically controlling the supply of gas and other fluids
and for like purposes the combination within or in conjunction with a supply pipe-

page_text: of the particular construction and arrangement of co-operating parts whereby
should one of the control apparatus fail to act, a current capable of actuating it
may be sent through its coils without disturbing the rest in series.
4. In apparatus for electrically controlling the flow of fluids or liquids the
combination and use with the pipes conveying the same of the co-operating parts
shewn and described in Fig. 4.
1000
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent for Applicant.