IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING, CONTROLLING, INDICATING, AND REGISTERING FLOW OF FLUIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cambell Stevenson of 14 Layland Street
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cambell Stevenson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1882.
JAMES CAMBELL STEVENSON of 14 Layland Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING,
CONTROLLING, INDICATING, AND REGISTERING FLOW OF FLUIDS
"
This invention has for object improvements in apparatus for regulating,
controlling, indicating and registering flow of fluids, by which the flow of fluids
into a main, or other passage or receptacle is so regulated as to produce a constant,
or approximately constant flow or pressure, also to indicate and register the time
or periods of the flow of fluid.
According to this invention the flow of fluid takes place through or past a
double valve, or opening, controlled by apparatus subject to the action of the flui
in the main or receptacle, whose pressure is to be regulated. This pressure acts
upon a floating body, which can be more or less weighted as required.
In one form of apparatus according to this invention, suitable for regulating the
supply and quantity of fluid such as illuminating gas, a main or chamber is
provided with a suitable double valve, the two parts of which are situated
respectively above and below a seating fixed in a partition, the lower side of which
is open to the gas supply, and the upper side to the gas outlet.
The rod or spindle on which the two parts of the double valve are placed, works
at its lower end in a suitably formed guide, while its upper extremity is con-
nected to an annular or other shaped float which can be weighted to suit the
required pressure in the main or chamber.

page_text: This float acts as or carries a lid or closure, for the upper part of the chamber,
which lid or closure is subject to the pressure in the chamber, a slight alteration
of the pressure causing it to rise or fall as the case may be, and to open or close the
valve sufficiently to bring the pressure again to the determined point.
The float is supported in water or other liquid in an annular or other suitably
formed vessel. This vessel is provided with an overflow pipe and cap, so that the
height of the water or other liquid cannot rise above a determined height, and so
vary the position to which the float has been adjusted. A gauge glass or
equivalent means may be employed to indicate the level of the liquid and to
prevent the vessel from being over charged.
When it is desired to indicate or register the time or periods at or during
which the fluid is flowing and also the approximate amount or quantity of such
flow the oscillations of the float, in conjunction with a uniform motion derived
from some other source such as clockwork are employed in the formation of a
diagram in which one set of dimensions, say the ordinates are a measure of the
pressure or velocity of flow of the fluid, and the other set of dimensions, say the
abcis: oc, are a measure of time or periods.
In one form of apparatus according to my invention, suitable for registering
the time at which jets on a gas main, branch, or pipe are lighted, and also for
registering approximately the number of such jets in operation, a sheet of suitable
paper, such as metallic or prepared paper, is secured around the periphery of a
drum or cylinder, and has a uniform determinate motion of rotation imparted to it by
clockwork or other convenient means. A pencil or marker stands in contact with
this paper and impresses a line upon it as it moves. The rising and falling move-
ment of the above mentioned float is communicated to the paper and a steady
motion in one direction is communicated by the clock work to the pencil, so that
the marking may follow an approximately helical line on the paper cylinder. In
some cases the float itself can conveniently be made to serve as the cylinder for
the reception of the paper sheet. With slight modification the above apparatus is
applicable to registering flow and waste of water under the constant service
system.
It is obvious that apparatus according to my invention may be constructed in
modified forms adopted for use with different fluids and liquids, and under different
conditions without departure from the essential features of my invention and that
the indicating and registering arrangement may or may not be used as required
for the different purposes to which the invention may be applied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Cambell Stevenson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th February 1883.
JAMES CAMBELL STEVENSON of 14 Layland Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING, CONTROLLING,
INDICATING, AND REGISTERING FLOW OF FLUIDS.'
"
This invention has for object improvements in apparatus for regulating, con-
trolling, indicating and registering flow of fluids, by which the flow of fluids into a
main or other passage or receptacle is so regulated as to produce a constant or
approximately constant flow or pressure, also to indicate and register the time or
periods of the flow of fluids.
According to this invention the flow of fluid takes place through or past a double
valve, or opening, controlled by apparatus subject to the action of the fluid in the
main or receptacle whose pressure is to be regulated. This pressure acts upon a
floating body, which can be more or less weighted as required. In one form of
apparatus according to this invention suitable for regulating the supply and
quantity of fluid such as illuminating gas, a main or chamber provided with a
suitable double valve, the two parts of which are situated respectively above and
below a seating fixed in a partition the lower side of which is open to the gas
supply, and the upper side to the gas outlet. The rod or spindle on which the two
parts of the double valve are placed, works at its lower end in a suitably formed
guide, while its upper extremity is connected to an annular or other shaped float
which can be weighted to suit the required pressure in the main or chamber. This
float acts as or carries a lid or closure for the upper part of the chamber, which lid
or closure is subject to the pressure in the chamber, a slight alteration of the
pressure causing it to rise or fall as the case may be, and to open or close the valve
sufficiently to bring the pressure again to the determined point. The float is
supported in water or other liquid in an annular or other suitably formed vessel.
This vessel is provided with an overflow pipe and cap, so that the height of the
water or other liquid, cannot rise above a determined height, and so vary the
position to which the float has been adjusted. A gauge glass or equivalent means
may be employed to indicate the level of the liquid and to prevent the vessel from
being overcharged. When it is desired to indicate or register the time or periods
at or during which the fluid is flowing and also the approximate amount or
quantity of such flow the oscillations of the float, in conjunction with a uniform
motion derived from some other source such as clockwork are employed in the
formation of a diagram in which one set of dimensions, say the ordinates, are a
measure of the pressure or velocity of flow of the fluids and the other set of
dimensions say the abscissoe, are a measure of time or periods. In one form of
apparatus according to my invention suitable for registering the time at which jets
on a gas main branch or pipe are lighted, and also for registering approximately
the number of such jets in operation, a sheet of suitable paper, such as metallic or
prepared paper is secured around the periphery of a drum or cylinder, and has an
uniform determinate motion of rotation imparted to it by clock work or other con-
venient means. A pencil or marker stands in contact with this paper and
impresses a line upon it as it moves. The rising and falling movement of the
above mentioned float is communicated to the paper and a steady motion in one
direction is communicated by the clock to the pencil so that the marking may
follow an approximately helical line on the paper cylinder,
In some cases the float itself can conveniently be made to serve as the cylinder

page_text: for the reception of the paper sheet, with a slight modincation the above apparatus
is applicable to registering flow and waste of water under the constant service
system.
It is obvious that apparatus according to my invention may be constructed in
modified forms adopted for use with different fluids and liquids, and under different
conditions without departure from the essential features of my invention and that
the indicating and registering arrangement may or may not be used as required for
the different purposes to which the invention may be applied.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional
elevation of the apparatus suitable for regulating and controlling in this case the
supply of gas, A. being the inlet and B. the outlet branch. Fig. 2. is a plan with the
cylindrical float or lid removed. Fig. 3. is a side elevation showing the water gauge
or overflow pipe. Fig. 4. is a plan. Fig 5. is a sectional elevation of a similar
apparatus but with an indicating or registering arrangement provided with clock-
work, the wheels of which are not shewn for simplicity. Fig. 6. is a plan with the
top cover or platform T. for carrying the clockwork removed. Fig. 7. is a side
elevation shewing the indicator paper barrel and glass water gauge. Fig. 8 is a
sectional plan. Fig. 1. shews an arrangement suitably formed for regulating and
compensating the pressure and flow of fluids such as illuminating gas in which
A is the inlet branch. C. is a rubber or metal valve fixed on the valve spindle D.
which is of sufficient length to work in the lower guide formed on small lid E and
through the cross bar F. which is fixed on the inner casing G. The spindle also
passes through the lid or floating valve H. and is secured and adjusted with screw
nuts as shewn. The floating valve or lid is provided with a loose cover H¹.
forming a receptacle for balance weights, to compensate for the different pressures
of the fluid to be regulated. To the lid H. a barrel shaped float I. is attached
immersed in water or other suitable liquid which is retained in the annular
chamber formed by the cylindrical casings J. and G. The height of the water may
be seen in the glass water gauge K which is used to charge the annular space, and
also to act as an overflow pipe; so that too much water shall not be put into the
chamber as this would alter the position and upset the adjustment of the apparatus.
The gas to be regulated to produce a constant or approximately constant flow or
pressure enters at the branch A, thence past the valve C and valve seat G¹ into
the chamber U. where the pressure acts against the lid H. causing it to rise or fall
as the pressure varies and thus to allow a greater or less amount of gas to pass the
valve C. The valve spindle D is attached to the lid which opens or closes the
valve according to the amount of gas required to pass through. The float is
attached to the lid H. and is made barrel shaped to prevent sudden oscillations
which would cause an unsteadiness in the pressure in the chamber U The water
in the annular chamber forms a joint preventing the gas escaping except by the
branch opening B. The floating lid H. is guided and held in position by the valve
spindle D, as shewn, thus when the lid and float are raised by an excess of pressure
the valve is totally or partially closed until the determined pressure is again
attained. When it is desired to indicate or register the time or periods at or
during which the fluid or gas is flowing and also the approximate amount or
quantity passed through the before described apparatus. I provide the lid H. with
a deep cylindrical outer casing L. Fig 5. suitably formed for securing a sheet of
metalic or other paper around its circumference this forms the paper barrel. The
lid has the same class of float attached as before described and shewn in Fig. 1.
but on the upper side one or more driving arms M are fixed on and which take
into the cross bar N. attached to an arrangement of clockwork capable of being
wound up and set in motion in such way as to cause the floating lid and paper
barrel to rotate once in a given time say twelve hours. The clock work is only
shewn in outline for simplicity but may be similar to an ordinary eight days clock.
One of the slowly revolving shafts. O. O. has a fine piece of catgut, silk or other
similar thread attached to and coiled around it, the other end of the thread passes
over the small pulley Q. and down on to the weighted crossbar or pencil holder R

page_text: which is held in position and guided by two stay rods S. S. thus when clockwork
is wound up the pencil bar or holder is raised into the position shown in Fig. 7.
When set in motion the paper barrel L, slowly revolves at the same time the pencil
bar lowers a certain amount whilst the barrel is making one revolution. The
pencil holder R. is provided with a tapped hole into which a hollow pin V is
screwed provided with a small spiral or other form of spring which presses the
pencil with sufficient force against the revolving paper barrel to make a line but
not to tear the paper; at the same time it can be unscrewed or drawn back when
the sheet is replaced by a new one. When no gas is passing through the apparatus
the revolving paper barrel and descending pencil form a helical line on the paper
but as soon as the gas is admitted to the apparatus the floating lid H. and paper
barrel L. rise to the regulated height and continue in this position until a change
of pressure takes place or a less supply is required. Thus when the gas supply is
stopped the float etc, drops down until the valve spindle end D. rests on the lid E.
This forms a loop in the helical line the length of which indicates the number of
hours the gas was passing through the apparatus, and the vertical ordinates of
which approximately show the number of outlet branches open during that time
The clockwork employed to rotate the paper barrel may be the same as that used in
an ordinary eight or fourteen days clock. The driving wheel N. with extended arms
is supposed to be attached on to the same bush or shaft as an ordinary hour hand
would be. The shaft or spindle upon which the thread is wound should revolve
once in a given time or at such a speed in relation to the paper barrel that the lines
formed on the paper do not come in contact with each other, when the gas is
passing through the apparatus at full speed or totally stopped.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the manner in
which it is to be carried into practical effect, I desire to have it understood that
what I consider to be novel and therefore claim as secured to me by the Letters
Patent hereinbefore in part recited is ;-
1. In apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of fluids the use of a
barrel shaped float substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. The improved apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of fluids
constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to
Figs 1 to 4. of the drawings.
3. The use in combination with apparatus for regulating and controlling the
flow of fluids of indicating and registering apparatus, the whole so combined and
operating as to produce a diagram which shall shew approximately the hours
at which the fluid was flowing and the amount of its flow substantially as
described.
4. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus for regulating,
controlling, indicating, and registering the flow of fluids constructed arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 to 8. of the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said James Cambell Stevenson have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty first day of November in the year of our
Lord, One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.