Steam and other Gases.
Year: 1889

page_text: Steam and other Gases.
1, LUDWIG LUCKHARDT, in Firma: Luckhardt & Alten, engineer in the City of
Cassel, in the kingdom of Prussia, German Empire 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 has for its object to provide a delicate and at the same time efficient
regulator of the pressure caused by steam or other gases.
The manner in which I carry my invention into effect is shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
The arrangement consists essentially of an airtight box A the lid of which is a
membrane S, which membrane must be made from material capable of bulging inwards
or outwards such as for instance, rubber or thin metal sheeting which latter would be
put on ample" or otherwise prepared so as to permit of the said bulging.
68
The box A is partly filled with a liquid partly with air or gas, and I prefer when
the apparatus is used for the regulation of hot gases such as for instance steam, to
charge it with linseed oil or other liquid with high boiling temperature, while when
using the apparatus for the regulation of exceptionally cold gases such as the carbonic
acid gas developed direct from the like gas in its fluid state, 1 prefer to charge the
said box A with alcohol or the like which does not easily freeze.
To the outer side of membrane S is attached a rod or the like which is connected
with a valve in the space B, in which (and in any space with which in free connection)
I assume that a regular pressure must be maintained. The box A is joined tightly
to the compartment B in such a manner that the membrane S becomes exposed to
Price Rd71

page_text: the pressure prevailing in such space or compartment B. The manner in which the
apparatus works is as follows:-
I cause a certain pressure, equal to the pressure I wish to maintain in compartment B,
to be created in the box A, taking care, however, not to create such pressure until
almost the like pressure has been created in compartment B, since the membrane S, if
a much higher pressure were exerted upon it on the one side, than on the other, might
prove too weak. The pressure which it is desired to maintain in compartment B,
having being once established in box A, it follows that in the moment the pressure in B
exceeds that in A the membrane S will bulge inwards (into box A) drawing the rod T
with it, and that being connected with a valve, either an escape of gas may be effected
(if the valve is attached in a suitable manner for that purpose to the rod T) or further
access of gas to the compartment B may be prevented, (the rod and valve in this case
being connected in a suitable manner to shut the valve).
For the purpose of establishing the desired pressure in box A, I can connect it with
compartment B, by means of a tube provided with a cock, in the manner shewn by
dotted lines on the drawing, the tube being marked and the cock h¹. According
to this arrangement. I open the cock and keep it open until the desired pressure has
been attained, as indicated in the ordinary way by means of a gauge, when 1 cease
the connection between A & B by closing the cock, and hence forward the membrane S
will act as described, the rod T, connected with the valve, taking part in its motions.
For purposes of a yet more delicate pressure regulation I construct the box A with a
bottom made of a membrane S', similar in every way to the membrane S, already described,
and which forms the lid. The membrane S is supported by the head piece W of a
lever, which may be regulated by a set screw s. Any pressure exerted on the mein-
brane S by the head piece W communicates itself to the membrane S, causing it to
bulge outwards until met by a like pressure from the compartment B, each motion of
the membrane S being as already described, transferred to the valve by means of
the rod T.
Where the pressures required to be maintained are below 2 atmospheres or there-
abouts it will generally be found practicable to establish the desired pressure in box A
solely by means of the head piece W acting on membrane S', while, when requiring
higher pressure than just mentioned it will be found convenient to establish the proper
pressure approximately by means of the connecting tube hand cock /', afterwards
regulating the pressure more exactly through head piece W.
The male screw that receives the set screws may be divided into degrees so that
certain positions of the set screw indicate certain pressures. The box A may be pro-
vided with the necessary fittings, such as waste, plug, tap, etc. for admitting and
withdrawing liquid when desired, and a complete, portable apparatus may be made up of
the hox A, and the compartment B, which is then conveniently made domeshaped, shewn
by dotted lines on the drawings, fitted with gauge and valves, controlled by the mem-
brane S, and with the necessary inlets and outlets for gas or steam; the apparatus
being sometimes further completed by the addition of the head piece W and accessory
lever etc. as described.
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. The method of regulating the pressure of steam and other gases by means of an
apparatus consisting essentially of a box A with membrane S substantially in the manner
as and for the purpose described.
2. The arrangement consisting in connecting membrane S with a valve in such a
manner that the motions of the membrane are transmitted to the valve for the
purposes described.
3. The method of creating a desired pressure in box A by establishing and stopping
at will connection between box A and the space B in which the pressure is to be
regulated, substantially in the manner described.

page_text: 4. The method of more minutely regulating the pressure either alone or in con-
junction with the method already claimed, by the arrangement consisting of a mem-
brane S supported and adjusted by a head piece W substantially as described and
shewn in the drawings.
5. A portable apparatus consisting of a casing in the upper compartment of which B
has the membrane S wholly or partly for bottom, the compartment A having the said
membrane S wholly or partly for lid, the bottom being either solid or consisting of
a membrane S¹ supported by an adjustable head piece, substantially in the manner
as and for the purposes described.