IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID PRESSURE REGULATORS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Caspar Wetter, of the Firm of Herbert and Company,
Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID PRESSURE REGULATORS."
communication from abroad by George Ross and Fergus Dodds, both of Troy,
in the State of New York, United States of America.
A
Sealed the 9th January 1880, and dated the 1st September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Caspar Wetter at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st September 1879.
CASPAR WETTER, of the Firm of Herbert. and Company, Solicitors of Patents, of
67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "LMPROVEMENTS IN
FLUID PRESSURE REGULATORS." A communication from abroad by George Ross and
Fergus Dodds, both of Troy, in the State of New York, United States of America.
The object of the Invention is to provide a mechanical device which being
situated at any point within a fluid conduit will automatically prevent the
pressure in the part beyond it from exceeding a pre-determined limit, independent
of the pressure in that part of the conduit from which the fluid is conducted, and
without necessitating any waste of fluid. The said device consists in a movable,
preferably vertical, piston valve, composed of a spindle or stem and three discs
working in a cylinder, which communicates at one end (top end) and also near the
middle with a chamber (equilibrium chamber) opening into the pipes in which the
pressure is to be regulated. The fluid enters from the side into the upper part of
the piston cylinder, for which purpose the latter has an annular enlargement, and at
such an height that when the piston is at the top the fluid inlet communicates with
the equilibrium chamber through the central opening of the piston cylinder, while
when the piston is at the bottom the upper disc is above and the central disc
below the enlargement, so as to prevent any passage of fluid into the equilibrium
chamber. The bottom disc prevents the escape of liquid at the bottom of the
piston cylinder and is exposed from the top to the pressure of the liquid in the
equilibrium chamber, the latter being also the case with the upper disc, while the
said fluid pressure acts only upon the lower surface of the central disc, in
[Price 6d1

page_text: consequence of which the piston will be driven downward if not counteracted by a
spring or arrested by a stop. If now a spring or equivalent contrivance be made
to press upon the bottom of the piston the latter can only fall, and therefore stop
the passage of fluid from the source of supply to the equilibrium chamber, when
the pressure in the latter falls beyond a certain limit which can be regulated by
regulating the tension of the spring, which may be effected by a screw and washer
or other known means. Although a vertical position of the cylinder is preferred,
and the latter may communicate with the equilibrium chamber at the top, these
conditions may vary without departing from the principle of the Invention. It is
found advantageous to contract the inlet pipe which admits duid to the piston
cylinder to a diameter smaller than that of the pipe leading out of the equilibrium
chamber, and the regulator may be constructed wholly or partly of metal, the
discs being made of or packed with any suitable known compressible or packing
material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Caspar Wetter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th February
1880.
"
CASPAR WETTER, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of Patents, of
67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID
PRESSURE REGULATORS." A communication from abroad by. George Ross and
Fergus Dodds, both of Troy, in the State of New York, United States of America.
In the transmission of fluids under pressure it is frequently desirable and often
times of very great importance that at some one or more points of the conduit the
> pressure shall be less than at other points; and it is of like desirability and
importance that some automatically operating means be adopted for maintaining
the pressure within suitable limits without wasting the fluid.
"
Without attempting to mention all the circumstances of transmission (which
would be practically impossible) to which the application of the principles of the
Invention will be found specially advantageous, the following most prominent
circumstances are alluded to in order to afford a clear idea of the character, scope,
utility, and adaptation of the improvements.
The ordinary water service of cities and towns where a considerable head is
obtainable or where a considerable pressure is required, necessitates the employment
of service pipes capable of withstanding a pressure per square inch equal to that
which may be at any time exerted within the mains, and this of course involves
the use of heavier and more expensive conduits or piping proportionably as the
main pressure is greater, to say nothing of the necessity of compensating for
water-hammering," to which all service pipes are liable, or of the precautions
essential against damage by leaking, which damage is certain to increase with the
main pressure. Similarly in various systems of water distribution, calculated more
especially for "fire-service" wherein an extraordinary pressure is maintained, it is
of marked importance for obvious reasons, that in some of the conduits the pressure
be lower than in others. In the distribution of gas for lighting purposes, steam
for heating and other purposes, air under pressure, and generally all liquids or
gases, the application of the improvements will be found of marked value.
It is therefore the purpose or object of this Invention to provide a mechanical
device which, being located at any point within the fluid conduit, will automatically
prevent the fluid pressure beyond it from exceeding any certain pre-determined
pressure per square inch, independently of the pressure within that part of the
conduit from which the fluid is conducted, and this without necessitating thus
wasting or discharging of any of the fluid.
To accomplish this the Invention consists in certain new and useful peculiarities
of construction and relative arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter
first fully described and then pointed out in the claims.
The Drawing represents a vertical section illustrating an apparatus embodying
the improvements, the view being taken upon a plane passing through the axis of
the valve stem.
A indicates the inlet to the pressure reducing apparatus from the main pipes,
reservoir, or other vessel in which the fluid may be contained; and B is the
equilibrium chamber of the apparatus intended to be connected with the pipes or
other vessels within which it may be desired that the pressure shall not exceed a
certain amount.
The two channels C and D communicate with each other at top and bottom
(before the valves and disks are located) as plainly shown. They (the channels)
are formed in the casing of the apparatus and parallel with each other, thus.
་

page_text: avoiding the use of any return pipe and making the device simple and easy to
construct as well as compact and durable.
Within the compartment C is located a spindle E which carries near its upper
end the two disks F and G, and below the lower opening into D a third disk H, all
of which are made to fit nicely against the walls of the chambers in which they are
placed. Within a third chainber I, directly in line with C, is located the loading
spring K, so arranged as to bear against disk H or against some part of or
attachment, to the spindle. The chamber I is of the saine diameter as channel
C so that the three disks are of like superficial area, and each in its movements is
like a piston in an elongated cylinder, by which great accuracy may be secured.
The opening from inlet A into chamber C is slightly contracted and communicates
with a groove or furrow a formed in the walls of chamber C, so that the fluid
from the inlet may pass around valve G and the stem, and find its way freely
into outlet B until valve G is carried down in its chamber below said groove or
furrow.
This contraction of the inlet opening beyond the limits of the outlet opening, and
leaving the latter always free of any obstruction (that is unobstructed by any valve
or disk) is an important feature of the construction tending to insure a uniformity
of flow and equality of fluid pressure, as well as greater sensitiveness of the valve
system than could otherwise occur. The enlarged and uninterrupted outlet
affords a practically non resisting passage for all fluid which may enter at the inlet,
and thus the flow through the apparatus will not be subjected to the variations
which may occur in the velocity of the incoming fluid, since as fast as any enters
the apparatus, it will find a free escape through it to operate upon the valves, or to
enter the service pipes in case the pressure be not too great. Were this outlet
made small in comparision with the inlet, the fluid in the space between the two
ports would be subjected to all the pulsations in the incoming fluid; and the outlet
would offer a frictional resistance which would have to be overcome before the valves
could be moved. This in addition to destroying the sensitiveness and accuracy of
the apparatus, would increase the tendency to wear away the walls of the port,
especially when passing muddy water, and would enhance the liability to clog
up the outlet with such sediment, as could come through the inlet without
obstruction. The enlarged outlet obviates all these difficulties, and is in a location
to afford the most convenient access of passing fluid to the service pipes, and renders
it possible and easy to construct the apparatus in a small scale which is advantageous
in economy of material as well as in the matter of setting up or fitting to place, and
in the saving of room.
Now as to the operation of the device so constructed, it is apparent that if the
spring be removed, any pressure whatever which may be exerted in the outlet B
and chamber D (this pressure being at all times precisely the same as that in' the
piping, within which it is desired there shall be no more than a given amount,) will
tend to drive the disks downward and to carry the disk G below the inlet opening.
When this disk passes below the opening its further movement is arrested by some
suitable form of stop or guard, and there will then be one valve F above and oue
G below the inlet, effectually cutting off the further flow of fluid; and as soon as
this cutting off takes place no further increase of pressure can occur. The down-
ward movement of the stem with its disks is due to the fact that there are two equal
surfaces exposed to the downward pressure and but one to the upward pressure, as
is plainly shown.
When the loading spring is properly placed so as to press upwardly against the
system of valves it is clear that before the inlet can be closed the tension of the
spring must be first overcome by the pressure in B and D, and this affords an
opportunity to limit the possible pressure within those chambers, and consequently
within the piping beyond, with a great degree of accuracy.
The tension of the loading spring may be controlled or adjusted by any suitable
continuance, one of which is indicated in the Drawing, wherein the set screw c bears

page_text: No
against a washer & upon which the spring rides. Its operation is easily understood..
The movement of the valve stem is arrested at the proper point by the shoulder g
in the path of the lower disk. The more accurately the disks are made to fit their
casings, the more perfect will be the operation of the device. Any style of packing
may be employed; for ordinary uses that shown in the Figure will be found to
give excellent results. The apparatus' is intended to be coupled with the conduits
at the point where it is desired that the reduction of pressure shall commence.
special form of coupling is shown since any may be adopted. The operation of the
device as previously explained is entirely independent of the pressure upon the
inlet side. This pressure may be of any degree whatever, and if the loading spring
is properly set, the inlet will be closed when the desired pressure is attained upon
the other side. The spring might be replaced by some other mechanical means
which would afford the required resistance to the play of the valve stem.
The Invention is to be distinguished from all such devices as safety valves in which
in order to control the pressure it is necessary to provide an escape for the fluid
which will be opened whenever a certain degree is reached, and from all such
regulators as employ a valve which controls the outlet opening, or in which the
chamber forming the cylinder for the balanced pistons and into which the inflowing
fluid is received is not in communication at top and bottom with the outlet
side of the apparatus, or in which the pressure is exerted against a diaphragm.
The casing as well as the pistons may be made of metal, and the packing discs of
india rubber, leather, or other suitable material.
Fig. 2 shows a slight modification of the regulator. The rod L which projects
through the bottom of the casing is connected with a bar n leading to and operat-
ing a register by which the tension of the loading spring K may be indicated, and the
motions of the pistons recorded, or the rod n may be connected with any suitable
mechanism. m and m' are the two arms of a double armed lever to which the
lower end of n is attached, and m" is the bracket which supports the lever.
connection between the pistons or the spring and the register or indicator, may
however be established in many different ways without departing from the nature
of the Invention
The
1. In an apparatus of the character and for the purposes herein specified, the
combination with the valve chamber open at top and bottom of the parallel
channel, communicating therewith at both ends, the three pistons or discs having
equal surfaces mounted upon a single stem and adapted to be moved by the reduced
pressure upon the outlet side of the apparatus or by the loading spring, thus
controlling the size of the contracted inlet port and leaving the enlarged outlet
unimpeded, substantially as shown and described.
2. The combination of the inlet A; outlet B, parallel chambers C, D,. com-
municating at top and bottom, chamber I, pistons F, G, H, balanced with respect to
the inlet pressure, of equal diameters, and adapted to regulate the size of the inlet,
while the size of the outlet remains unchanged, and an encased loading spring; the
arrangement being substantially as explained, so as to insure the cutting off of the
inflowing fluid by a pressure upon the outlet side less than that within the main
supply tube, as shown and described.
3. The combination of inlet A, chamber C, grooved about the contracted inlet
port, parallel chamber D communicating therewith at top and bottom, chamber I,
pistons F, G, H, balanced with respect to the inlet pressure, and adapted to regulate
the size of the inlet, while the size of the outlet remains unchanged, spring K
located in chamber I, adjusting device c, d, and enlarged outlet B; the whole being
arranged within a suitable casing, and otherwise constructed and arranged to operate
substantially in the manner set forth.
4. The combination of inlet A, chamber C enlarged about the inlet port, chamber

page_text: D, pistons F, G, H, balanced by a spring K, outlet B, and rod L connected with a.
register, indicator, or other suitable mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Caspar Wetter, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty fifth day of February; A.D. 1880..