Improvements in Automatic Regulators or Reducing Valves.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Regulators or Reducing Valves.
We, HENRY BRIER of 47 Dixon Avenue Crosshill, in the County of Renfrew
Manager, and the SCOTCH AND IRISH OXYGEN COMPANY LIMITED, of Rosehill
Works, Polmadie, in the County of Renfrew, Gas Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for its object improvements in automatic regulators or
reducing valves and it more particularly relates to the valves employed for what
are known as "compressed gases," but may also be employed for liquid, or mixed
gas and liquid under pressure.
According to this invention one or more diaphragms, bellows or pistons are
arranged to actuate in an improved manner a stop valve, which is used to obstruct
the passage of the high pressure gas or liquid, or mixture of gas and liquid. This
is done by introducing such a system of levers, struts or links, as is capable of
bringing a gradually increasing pressure to bear upon the valve as it closes or comes
home to its seat.
The systems of levers, struts or links referred to are confined to such as when
actuated by a constant or slightly augmented force are capable of producing a
gradually increasing pressure. We give two examples of the application of such a
system of levers, struts or links to an automatic regulator, but it must be under-
stood that we do not confine ourselves to these two methods of carrying out our
invention.
Under one arrangement the levers, struts or links are preferably arranged in
pairs, abutting against one another directly or indirectly, forming an angle at their
inner ends. The outer end of the one strut bears up against a fixed stop and the
outer end of the other bears against the head of the valve or a slide-block com-
municating with the valve.
Attachment is made between the diaphragm, bellows or piston, and the two inner
ends of the struts in such a manner that movement of the diaphragm, bellows or
piston produces corresponding movement of the abutting ends of the struts and
lateral movement of the valve, causing it to open or close according to the pressure
in the outlet or low pressure chamber.
Under a second arrangement for obtaining the desired result a system of links is
employed in which one link or set of links, which we will call "the long links," is
hung from its end or ends in one direction from a centre or centres in the same
plane or thereabouts as the axis of the valve, while its end or ends in the other
direction are attached directly or indirectly to the diaphragm, bellows or piston.
To the last mentioned end or ends of the long links is or are attached one end or
ends of a shorter link or links, the other end or ends of the shorter link or links
abutting against the head of the valve, or against a slide-block in communication
with the valve. The swing of the long links about their fixed centre or centres,
caused by the movement of the diaphragm, bellows or piston, will, from the manner
in which the links are hung, cause a lateral movement of the valve, causing it to
open or close according to the pressure in the outlet or low pressure chamber. The
valve is fitted with a spring which is arranged to maintain it in constant contact
with the system of levers, struts or links. The pressure of the outflowing gas,
liquid or mixture of gas and liquid is 'preferably dependent' on the strength of the
diaphragm or bellows, or weight of the piston. It is, however, further adjustable

page_text: by the application in any usual manner of a spring or springs or of weights or other
force bearing directly or indirectly against the diaphragm, bellows or piston.
Dated this Seventeenth day of September 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Regulators or Reducing Valves.
We HENRY BRIER of 47 Dixon Avenue, Crosshill in the County of Renfrew,
Manager, and the SCOTCH AND IRISH OXYGEN COMPANY, LIMITED, Rosehill
Works, Polmadie, in the County of Renfrew, Gas Manufacturers, 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 has for its object improvements in automatic regulators or
reducing valves and it more particularly relates to the valves employed for what
are known as "compressed gases" but may also be employed for liquid or mixed
gas and liquid under pressure.
According to the invention a bellows is arranged to actuate in an improved
manner a stop valve which is used to obstruct the passage of the high pressure gas
or liquid, or mixture of gas and liquid-This is done by introducing such a system
of links as is capable of bringing a gradually increasing pressure to bear upon the
valve as it closes or comes home to its seat and the systems of links referred to are
confined to such as when actuated by a constant or slightly augmented force are
capable of producing a gradually increasing pressure.
On the accompanying drawings an example of the application of such a system
of links is illustrated, Figure 1 being a transverse vertical section and Figure 2 a
front elevation partly in section.
It is however to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to this mode of
carrying out our invention.
A link a is as shewn by these figures centred or pivotted at the lower end a' near
the valve b, whilst the other end a² is attached to a bellows c by the connection e.
To the end a² of the link a one end of a shorter link is attached the other end
abutting against the head of the valve or against a slide block in conjunction
with the valve.
The swing of the link a about its fixed centre caused by the movement of the
bellows c effects a lateral movement of the valve causing it to open or close
according to the pressure in the outlet or low pressure chamber g.
The valve is fitted with a spring which is arranged to maintain it in constant
contact with the system of links and the bellows may be of any suitable construction,
but preferably of metal. As shewn on the drawings it is composed of a series of
corrugated metallic rings or washers joined together by lapping or otherwise at the
outer and inner circumference. To the outermost ring a plate or disc c¹ is attached
to which one end of the connection e is secured whilst to the innermost ring a
broader washer 2 is connected the outermost circumference of which is secured to
the casing of the regulator. The bellows which is open to the low pressure
chamber works accordian wise distending and returning on variation of pressure.
Instead of a bellows a diaphragm or piston may be substituted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
In an automatic regulator or reducing valve the combination with a bellows
preferably metallic or of a diaphragm or piston with a system of links so arranged

page_text: that when actuated by a constant force they exert upon a stop valve b a gradually
increasing pressure as the said valve closes substantially as described and as part
shewn on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Seventeenth day of June 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.