US861038A - Automatic gas-regulating valve. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

B. M. LEWIS. AUTOMATIC GAS REGULATING VALVE.

' APPLICATION FILED D110. 3, 1906' Q/Vihwoou BENJAMIN M; LEWIS, OF RENO, NEVADA.

AUTOMATIC GAS-REGULATING VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July as, 1907.

Application filed December 3, 1906. Serial No. 346.168-

' To all 'whom it may concern:

the United States, residing at Reno, in the county of Washoe and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gas-Regulating Valves; and I do declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic gas regulating valves.

The object of the invention is to provide a valve of this character adapted to be controlled by the pressure of the gas to regulate the flow of the same.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing is shown a vertical sectional view of a valve and the regulating mechanism connected thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the valve casing, at one end of which is connected a gas inlet or supply pipe 2. Arranged in the casing 1 is a valve seat 3, in the upper end of which is arranged a gas discharge port 4. In the casing 1 is arranged the valve 5, which is preferably in the form of a circular disk, on the upper side of which and adapted to be engaged with the seat is a washer or gasket 6 of composition metal. The lower end of the seat 3, which is engaged by the gasket 6, is preferably beveled or inclined to an edge, as shown at 7, thus facilitating the tight engagement of the same by the gasket 6 on the valve and preventing any collection of sand or foreign matter to interfere with the closing of the valve.

Connected to the valve 5 is a valve stem 8, which projects upwardly through the seat 3 and is pivotally-connected at its upper end to an operating lever 9 which is pivotally mounted within a diaphragm casing 10 secured to the upper end of the valve casing 1, as shown. The diaphragm casing 10 is preferably of flat cyli ndricalshape and formed of upper and lower sections 12 and 13. The inner edges of the sections 12 and 13 are provided with radially-projecting annular flanges 14 that are bolted together and between which and across the interior of the casing 10 is secured a diaphragm 13, which is preferably formed of leather but which may be of any other suitable material.

Secured to the upper and lower sides of the central portion of the diaphragm 13 are circular disks 14 of tin or other sheet metal. The free end of the lever 9 is connected to the center of the diaphragm 13 and disk 14 by a downwardly-projecting bolt 15, which is secured to the diaphragm 13 and plates 14 by clamping nuts 16. The lower end of} the bolt 15 which projects below the diaphragm, is preferably bifurcated, and in said bifurcated end is connected the free end of the lever 9. Connected with the lower portion of the casing 10 below the diaphragm 13 is a gas outlet pipe 17, while in the upper side of the casing 10 above the diaphragm 13 is an air vent 18.

On the upper side of the casing 10 is formed a centrally-disposed boss 19; in which is formed a guide passage 20 having interior screw threads in its upper end to receive a .threaded adjusting bolt 21. The lower end of the bolt 21 is engaged by the upper reduced end of a spiral spring 22, the lower end of which projects into the upper portion of the casing 10 and is adapted to bear upon the upper side of the diaphragm to restore and to hold the same and the valve 5 in a normal position. The lower end of the spring 22 within the casing 10 is preferably conical-shaped with the larger lower end of the same into engagement with the upper metal plate 14 of the diaphragm. The tension of the spring 22 is adjusted by means of the bolt 21, as will be understood.

In operation, the gas when fiowing at its normal pressure passes through the valve casing 1 and seat 3 and through the port 4 therein into the lower portion of the diaphragm casing, and from thence through the gas outlet pipe 17 connected therewith. Should the pressure of the gas be increased above its normal condition, said pressure will be directed upon the underside of the diaphragm, and bulging or pressing the same upwardly against the tension of the spring 22, thus raising the lever 9 and causing the same to draw the valve upwardly into engagement with the seat 7 and thereby cutting off the passage of gas through the valve until the pressure of the gas has been diminished to a sufficient degree to permit the spring 22 to force the diaphragm downwardly, thereby causing the lever 9 to again open the valve. It will be observed that by constructing the valve to operate as herein shown and described, the pressure of the gas in the pipe after the valve has been closed will be upon the valve and not upon the diaphragm, so that the danger of breaking the diaphragm by a sudden or increased pressure in the mains is prevented. It will also be observed that should the lever 9 be broken that the valve will immediately close by pressure of the gas owing to the counterbalancing pressure of the spring 22 being removed from the valve stem, thus providing an automaticallyoperating safety valve as well as a pressure controlling valve.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

An automatic gas regulating valve comprising a valve casing arranged in the gas inlet pipe a valve seat arranged in said valve casing, said seat having a tapered or conical lower end, a valve adapted to be engaged with the tapered lower end of the seat, a diaphragm casing connected with the valve casing and communicating with said valve seat, a stem on said valve adapted to work through said seat and to project into said diaphragm casing, an operating lever pivotally-mounted in the diaphragm casing and connected to the stem of said valve, a flexible diaphragm arranged in said diaphragm casing and dividing the same into upper and lower compartments, sheet metal disks arranged above and below said central portion of said flexible diaphragm, means to connect the outer end of said valve 7 operating lever with the under side of said diaphragm, =1

gas discharge pipe connected with the lower side of the diaphragm casing, and means to permit the escape of air from the upper part thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN M. LEWIS.

Witnesses GEO. S. WALno, C. ST. GEORGE.

Images