US461829A - Gas-regulator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. GORDGN.

GAS REGULATOR.

No. 461,829. Patentedl Oct. 27, 1891.

ATTUH/VEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. GORDON.

GAS REGULATOR.

(No Model.)

/N VE N T05 Bgm im OHNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GORDON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 461,829, dated October 2'7, 1891..

Application filed August 26, 1890. Serial No. 363,093. (No model.)

erence being had to the accompanying draw-v ings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to gas or fluid governors applicable to regulating the flow of a cur- V rent through the saine to the supply-pipe of a A lally attached to a gas-lamp fixture.

lamp or other iixture, and has for its object the accomplishment of several purposes-viz., the formation of the external supporting shell or frame of such shape and parts that while it may be secured at its inlet and outlet ends, respectively, to the inlet and exit supplypipes, whether for ascending` or descending currents or for horizontal supply-pipes, all the working parts of the regulator` may be removed for cleaning or repairs without loosening but a single joint-and also in the internal construction of the governor, whereby the flow of gas is always downward upon the float, which is of such form as to constitute a passage way in itself, is balanced by gas-pressure upon its lower surface, and is guided vertically-by contact-of its own depending gas-tube against the inner case or shell, whereby a larger passage-way is secured, and consequently a greater capacity for any given size of regulator; and for these purposes my invention consists, first, in the construction of the external shell or frame, and,

secondly, of the internal working parts of the regulator, as hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of my improved regulator, with the additional sketches above and below it, respectively, to show how it would be usu- Fig. 2 is a like vertical sectional view of a modification thereof in which the gas enters at the base of the regulator and has its exit at the top. Fig. 3 is also a vertical sectional View of another arrangement of the several parts in which theinlet and outlet are in the same horizontal plane; and Fig. 4t is a vertical sectional view substantially similar to Fig. l,

but without the additionalsupplementalarm, and intended to show more particularly the addition of the spring upon the periphery of the shell which contains the float.

In gas or fluid regulators of this class it has been the usual practice heretofore to construct a complete regulator and place it within a yoke or clamp, securing it therein by means of a movable anged ftube or collar, said collar being in some cases made movable within the yoke and in other cases made movable upon the regulator and in most cases involving four or at least several joints, all of which require that care should be exercised to prevent leakage -at the several joints. To overcome this objection is the Object of the first part of my invention, thedesign of which is to construct the external shell of the regulator in such manner that it may be fitted directly to the inlet and outlet supplypipes without the intervention of any supporting-yoke and in suoli manner that it need not be afterward disturbed at either the inlet or outlet joints, while at the saine time all the working'parts of the regulator may be removed forcleaning Or repair and while it is in place upon the supply-pipes by the unsorewing of a single joint.y

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l, A below of the regulator, and A is a supplemental arm terminating in an inlet-entrance B, said supplemental arm A being hollowedout tov-Q i Sis forni an inlet gas-passage K2. An additional supplemental arm A3, similar to andiopposite to the first, may be addedv for symmetry. yof

cap A2, provided with an internal projection' D', which when the cap is screwed down in place abuts against the periphery of the-inner shell T to hold it in place in the external casing of the regulator. This shell is constructed in the shape of two hollow cylinders T and G, of different diameters, the former connected at its base to an intermediate annular plate S, which is provided with a central recess and an annular series of gas-apertures M. The lower hollow cylinder G is fitted at its top within this central recess. Vithin IOO 8o the line a a is the external shell or case this inner shell is fitted loosely a float consisting of an annular plate I, circularly recessed at its center and having a depending hollow cylindrical tube J itted thereto at its periphery in the central recess of the ioatplate I. The closing-cap A2 is so shaped either in the casting, as at H, Fig. l, or bythe addition of a screw, as at H, Figs. 2, 3, and al, that it shall form a valve-seat with the top of the float, and thereby closing the entrance to the hollow depending tube .I of the float. The design of this part of my invention is to avoid the use of the usual ioat-disk constructed with a central guide-rod or hollow post upon which the tloat moves vertically, as that form of iioat is objectionable in that the hollow central postoccupies space which in my device is made available as a passageway, by providing the iioat with a depending tube and guiding thelatter externally by contact of its outer periphery with the interior of the inner shell, thus making the hollow depending tube of the float the exit gasway of the regulator, by means of which construction a greater capacity is secured in any given size of regulator.

The essential features of the external shell of my improved regulator (shown in the several' figures of the drawings) are a passageway K2 leading from the inlet-entrance B to a passage-way K, the communication between which two passage-ways is a valveopen-ing capable of being closed more or less byaregulating-screwF; also,another passageway K, open-at the top and leading also from said initial passage-way K2, and a inal passage-way A4, leading to the outlet C of the regulator In case itis desired to attach my regulator to an ascending current instead of a descendingorhorizontal current it will be necessary toextend the outlet-passage A1 by means of a curved hollow arm A5, as shown in Fig. 2. lVithin this external shell A of the regulator is placed the internal shell T, S, and G, so arranged within the recess of the outer shell that it is capable of being lifted entirely out therefrom. The Iioat also is in like manner capable ot being lifted out of the inner shell in both cases without the use of tools. lVithin the said inner shell is fitted loosely the tioat I, with its depending tube J passing down into the cylindrical leg G of the inner shell. The central openingof this float forms a valveseat with the projection I-I (see Fig. l) of the cap A2 or with the screw II (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4) of the cap A2. In Fig. 4 is shown a spring D, which takes the place of the projection D ot' Fig. l on the interior of the cap A2 and serves to hold the inner shell or float-chamber in position. The parts being put together as described, the closing-cap A2 is screwed in place on the outer shell. It* is obvious from this description that when the regulator needs to be cleaned or repaired it will be unnecessary to remove it from its supply-pipes at B and C, but merely to unscrew the cap A2 and lift out the inner shell T S Gr, with the iioat I J and after cleaning or repairing replace them in the manner described, and thus a single joint only need be opened for the purpose.

The operation of the device is as follows: The gas or other iiuid enters at the inlet B and flows unrestricted through the passages K2 and K, and thence through the perforations M in the horizontal annular plate S of the inner shell, there impinging upon the under surface of the disk I of the float. The

Vpressure raises the disk I and iits depending tube .I until the mouth of the tube is brought into close proximity with the valve seat formed upon the screw or projection I-I. It' the depending tube .I of the iioat is iitt-ed to move gas-tight in the leg Got the inner shell and the passage-way K is fully closed by the regulating-screw F, no gas will pass through the regulator. In some cases the iioat-cylinder may be quite loosely fitted; but when it is desired to have as wide a range of adj ustment as may be possible at the valve of the adjusting-screw F it should be iitted as neatly as is compatible with the free movement ot the float upon slight changes ot' pressure. Then a volume of gas or fluid greater or less in amount is required, the passage K is opened by a movement of the adjustment-screw F. A volume of gas is thus allowed to pass through the passage-way K over thetop ofthe inner shell and downward upon the top of the disk I of the iioat, which will have the effect to depress the disk I, allowing the gas to pass down through the depending tube I to'passage-way A4 and through the outlet C of the regulator, and this depression of the disk will continue until an equilibrium is established between the pressures above and below said disk, after which the volume ot fluid or gas delivered at the outlet C of the regulator will remain the saine under all conditions of pressure at the inlet of the regulator in excess of the pressure required to overcome the inertia of the float.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isj l. In a gas-regulator, the combination, with an external shell or casing open at the top and having an outlet-passage communicating directly with the open end of a hollow reciprocating gas-valve and a main inlet -passage divided into two inlet passage-ways by means of au adjustable regulating-screw, one of said inlets leading to achamber in which said gasvalve is operated from below and the other ot said inlets leading to a chamber in which said gas-valve is operated from above, of an inner shell forming a ioat-chamber and composed of two chambers of unequal diameter united by an intermediate annular plate provided with perforations communicating with the main inlet-passage,a reciprocating gas-valve consisting of an annular disk provided with a central hollow depending -tube adapted to reciprocate within said inner shell or casing,

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and a screw-cap or cover closing the top of said external shell or casing and provided on its inner surface with a valve projection adapted to close the port of the reciprocating valve when brought in contact therewith, said parts being constructed and combined substantially as set forth.

2.' In a gas-regulator, the combination, with an external shell or casing provided with inlet and outlet passages and Open at the top, of a removable cap adapted to close said opening, an inner shell or casing consisting of two open chambers of unequal diameter connected by an intermediate perforated annular plate and forming a float-chamber and partition between the inlet and outlet passages in the regulator, a reciprocating gas-valve consisting of a disk secured to a hollow spindle or tube, the latter forming a gas-passage comm unicating directly with the outlet-passage of the regulator, and an adjusting-screw acting as a valve to open more or less apassage-way leading from the inlet-chamber to the top of the inner shell oroat-chalnber, substantially as described.

3. In a regulator, the combination,with an external shell provided with main inlet and outlet passages and with an opening through which to insert and remove at pleasure the contained mechanism, ot' a removable cap adapted to close said opening, a removable inner shell or casing forminga iOat-chamber and partition between the inlet and outlet passages of the main casing, and a removable vertically-reciprocating valve operating therein, consistingof a disk and a tube, the latter leading directly downward from the inner casing or iioat-chalnber to the main Ontlet-passage of the regulator,.whereby said inner shell and its contained valve may be removed for cleaning, tbc., by removing the said cap of the external shell and without disturbing or disconnecting the inlet and outletconnections to the regulator, substantially as described. l

4t. In a gas-regulator, the combination, with an external shell provided with inlet and Outlet passage-ways and an open top, of a removable screw-cap A2, adapted to close said top, an inner casing or shell constructed of two cylinders T G, of diierent diameters, with an intermediate annular plate S between them, and providedwith gas-apertures M, a verticallyreciprocating gas-valve consisting of the disk I, with a depending cylindrical tube J communicating directly with the outlet passage-way of the regulator, and an adjustingscrew F, adapted to more 'or less divide the inlet-passage into two passages leading to the top and bottom, respectively, of the reciprocating gas-valve,.substantially as described.

5. In a gas-regulator, the combination, with an external shell open at the top and closed by a removable screw-cap, of a removable inner shell or iioat-chamber containing a reciprocating gas-valve provided with a central opening communicating directly with the out-- let passage-way of the regulator, said external shell or casing having an inletpassage v structed as described and provided with gas-r apertures M and forming a iioat-chamber and partition between the inlet and outlet passages Of the main shell or casing, and a reciprocating gas-valve consisting of the disk I, provided with a central depending tube J, adapted to move and be guided within said internal wall G by contact of its exterior surfaces therewith, said reciprocating valve forming the sole means ot' exit to the outlet-passage'of the regulator, substantially as de` scribed.

7. In a gas-regulator, and in combination with an external shell having a main inletpassage K2 and a second passage K', an inner shell or casing constructed as described and forming a float-chamber and a partition between the inlet and outlet passages of the main casing, a reciprocating gas-valve consistin g of an annular dislc and depending cylinder moving vertically in said inner casing and having a central opening through which the gas may iiow in a downward direction, and an adjusting-screw F, adapted to more or less restrict the flow of gas to said passageway K', whereby an unrestricted tlow of gas is delivered to the lower surface ot' Ysaid reciprocating valve, while a restricted and adjustable volume thereof is delivered to the upper surface of said valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 31st day of July, A. D. 1890.

Witnesses: s

S. P. CAMPBELL, W. C. WOOD, Jr.

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