IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS TO GAS-BURNERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Pope, of the Gotha Iron Works, Slough, in the
County of Bucks, Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS TO GAS-BURNERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Pope at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1881.
ABRAHAM POPE, of the Gotha Iron Works, Slough, in the County of Bucks,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF
GAS TO GAS-BURNERS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the gas regulator or regulating
apparatus described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent, dated
September 13th, A.D. 1880, No. 3730, and although applicable for use in all cases
where a perfect regulation of the quantity of gas supplied to the burners is
desirable, yet is chiefly designed for use in connection with railway vehicles. The
main objects of the said Invention are to ensure the absolute steadiness of the
light irrespective of any jarring or concussions caused by the irregularities of the
road over which the vehicles pass, and at the same time to equalize the flow of gas
to the burners, notwithstanding the varying pressure of such gas in the cylinder or
other receptacle which contains the gas under pressure. This improved apparatus
is distinguished from that described in the Specification of the said former Letters
Patent, by the employment of one lever only to act upon the valve instead of
compound levers as therein described.
In carrying my Invention into practice I employ a diaphragm of linen, cotton, or
other fibrous or flexible material, coated preferably on both sides with collodion to
render it air and gas tight. Or in some cases I employ cotton fabric, so treated as
to practically form pyroxyline, or I use vegetable parchment prepared with
glycerine. This flexible diaphragm is enclosed in the box or case of the regulator
in an air-tight manner between the body and the cover of the said regulator, and
is connected at its centre by a bar or link to one end of a pivoted lever. The
other end of this lever is adapted to bear upon a valve which is entirely
Price Rd 1

page_text: disconnected from and independent of the other portions of the regulator, and is
free to move in suitable bearings on a casting or piece which is provided with the
valve seat. This valve when raised from its seat by the action of a spiral or other
spring permits the gas to flow from the gas inlet pipe into the chamber or space
below the diaphragm, and through an outlet pipe to the burners. When however
the entrance of gas to the chamber below the said diaphragm exceeds in pressure
that at which the gas is to be consumed at the burners, the diaphragm will be
raised and will consequently elevate the long arm of the aforesaid pivotted lever,
thereby causing its short arm to act upon the valve to close the same until the
pressure in the said chamber again decreases. Connected to the aforesaid bar or
link and to the pivoted lever, and directly in line with the centre of the diaphragm,
is a spiral or other spring, whose tension may be adjusted (according to the pressure
required) from the outside of the regulator, as described in the said former
Specification. The central position of this spring is very important, as it ensures
the equilibrium of the various parts of the regulating apparatus, and tends to
prevent any oscillation of the diaphragm or lever, and consequent irregularities of
the light. The cover of the said regulator is provided with a very small hole to
prevent the passage of air to and from the space above the diaphragm. This hole
however is not of sufficient area to permit air to enter or escape quickly enough to
allow of any sudden action of the diaphragm, but ensures a regular and steady
action of the latter, and prevents any oscillation of the same owing to irregularities
of the road over which the vehicle passes, and consequently any variation of the
light at the burners.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Abraham Pope in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th November
1881.
ABRAHAM POPE, of the Gotha Ironworks, Slough, in the County of Bucks,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF
GAS TO GAS-BURNERS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the gas regulator or regulating
apparatus described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent, dated
September 13th, A.D. 1880, No. 3730, and although applicable for use in all cases
where a perfect regulation of the quantity of gas supplied to the burners is
desirable, yet it is chiefly designed for use in connection with railway vehicles. The
main objects of the said Invention are to ensure the absolute steadiness of the
light irrespective of any jarring or concussion caused by the irregularities of the
road over which the vehicles pass, and at the same time to equalize the flow of gas
to the burners notwithstanding the varying pressure of such gas in the cylinder or
other receptacle wherein the gas under pressure is stored. This improved apparatus
is distinguished from that described in the Specification of the said former Letters
Patent by the employment of one lever only to act upon the valve instead of the
compound lever arrangement as therein described.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the said regulating apparatus ; and
Figure 2 is a plan of the same with the cover and diaphragm removed.
In carrying my Invention into practice I employ a diaphragma of linen, cotton,
or other fibrous or flexible material, coated preferably on both sides with collodion
to render it air and gas tight. Or in some cases employ cotton fabric so treated
as to practically form pyroxyline, or I use vegetable parchment prepared with
glycerine. The central part of this diaphragm is held between two plates a³, a³,
the upper one of which is of a diameter equal to about two thirds of that of the
box or case b. By using this comparatively large plate instead of a small disc or
washer, as ordinarily employed, I obtain the result that the pressure of the gas is
chiefly exerted on the space covered by this plate, the annular flexible portion of
the diaphragm serving merely as a gas-tight joint, and the diaphragm works more
satisfactorily than when formed in the ordinary manner. This diaphragm is
enclosed in the box or case b of the regulator in an air-tight manner, between the
body b and the cover b of the said regulator, as shewn, and is connected at its
centre by a bar or link c to one end of a lever d pivoted at d'. The other end d²
of this lever is adapted to bear upon the valve e; this valve is entirely disconnected
from and independent of the other portions of the regulator, and is free to move in
suitable bearings f¹ on the casting or piece f which is provided with the valve
seat 2 c represents a spiral spring which serves to lift the valve c from its seat
when the pressure of gas in the chamber below the diaphragm decreases and the
latter descends; g is the gas inlet pipe, and h is the outlet pipe to the burners.
Connected to the aforesaid bar or link c, and to the lever d, and directly in line
with the centre of the diaphragm a, is a spring i, whose tension may be adjusted
(according to the pressure required) from the outside of the regulator by means of
a screw j, as described in the said former Specification. The central position of
this spring is very important, as it ensures the equilibrium of the various parts of
the regulating apparatus, and tends to prevent any oscillation of the diaphragm
and lever, and consequent irregularities of the light. The cover be of the said
regulator is provided with a very small hole or aperture at 6* to permit the
passage of air to and from the space above the diaphragm. This hole however is

page_text: not sufficiently large to permit air to enter or escape quickly enough to cause any
sudden rise or fall of the diaphragm, but ensures a regular and steady action of the
said diaphragm and thereby prevents any variation of the light at the burners, which
would otherwise be caused by the oscillation of the diaphragm by reason of
irregularities in the road over which the vehicle passes.
When the pressure in the chamber below the diaphragm a is not sufficient to
overcome the tension of the spring i, the said spring will draw down the diaphragm
and the long arm of the lever d, and consequently relieve the valve of the pressure
of the end of the said lever. The valve e will then rise from its seat so that
gas will enter the said chamber through the feed pipe g, and pass through the
pipe to the burners. When however the pressure of gas in the said chamber
exceeds the required pressure of the gas at the burners, the diaphragm & will be
raised and will consequently elevate the long arm of the lever d, thereby causing
its short arm to act upon the valve e to close the same until the pressure in the
said chamber is again reduced.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. In an apparatus for regulating the supply of gas to gas-burners, the
diaphragm consisting of the comparatively large central plate in combination with
the flexible material, coated or otherwise prepared, substantially as above set forth
and for the purpose specified.
Second. The said apparatus provided with the cover b' fitted in an air-tight manner
upon the case or box above the diaphragm, but provided with a very small hole or
aperture 6*, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The modification of the apparatus described in my said former
Specification, consisting in the arrangement whereby one lever only is employed
to act upon the valve, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abraham Pope, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ABRAHAM POPE. (L.S.)