US417134A - Gas-pressure regulator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. J. BELL. GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 417,134. Patented Dec. 10, 1889.

N. PETERS. Phmo-Liihwgnpher, Washinglcn. 0.6.

(No Model.) 2 sheets -sheet 2.

H. J. BELL.

G'AS PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 417,134. I Patented Dec. 10, 1889.

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N) PETERS. Phoiouthagnpher, Whh'mglon. DQC

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD J. BELL, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NENV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VELSBACII INCANDESCENT GAS LIGHT COMPANY, OF- NEIV JERSEY.

GAS-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,134, dated December 10, 1889.

Application filed June 6, 1889- Serial No. 313,325: (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD J. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gloucester City, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Pressure Regulators, of which the following is a speei fication.

This invention relates to that class of highpressure gas-regulators that are especially designed to be located between a gas-meter and the supply-main; and it has for its object to provide a gas-prossure-regulating apparatus that will obviate or lessen the liability of the escape of gas into a building in the event of the supply of gas being cut off by accident or otherwise while the burners are open and in use and restored before said burners can be closed.

The object of my invention I accomplish 2c in the manner and bythe novel combination of devices hereinafter described andelaimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a high- 2 5 pressure gas regulator embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line a: w of Fig. 2 with the triple valve removed and showing the independent startingvalve. Fig. 3 illustrates a modification in the construction of the triple valve.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a casing having a detachable top or cover 2, provided with a vent 3, in which an escape-pipe 4 may be inserted.

In one side of the casing 1 is an opening to receive an inlet-pipe 5, which is adapted to connect with a pipe leading from a gas-main. On the inner end of the inlet-pipe 5 within the casing 1 is a valve-casing having a chamber 6 and upper and lower gas-passages provided with flanges 7, 8, 9, and 10, that form what I term a quadruplex valve-seat, two of which are within said chamber, one above and one below. The pipe 5 and attached chamber 6 are secured by a nut 11 on the outer screw-threaded portion of said pipe, and the device is prevented from turning by means of a pin or screw 12, which is passed through the vvalve-casing 1 and engages a depending flange 13 on the pipe 5 or attached chamber.

The automatic safety cut-off and regulating valves are three'in number-an upper valve 14 above the chamber 6, an intermediate valve 15 within the chamber, and a lower valve 16 below said chamber-and they constitute what I term a .triple valve. These valves consist of flexible or elastic disks that are bolted or otherwise secured to intermediate stems 17, having guide-wings 18, that are adapted to move vertically within the flanges of the valve-seats and afford passages for the flow of gas when the valves are unseated.

It will be observed that the upper valve 14 and intermediate valves 15 are adapted to automatically seat upon the valve seats or flanges 7 and 9, respectively, and remain closed thereon by gravity when the supply of gas is cut off from the regulator. These valves 14: and 15 are therefore adapted to serve as safety cut-oft valves in a manner to be presently explained, while after said valves 1& and 15 have been unseated the intermediate valve 15 and the lower valve 16, acting in conjunction with the flanges or valve-seats 8 and 10, will serve to regulate the pressure of the gas permitted to flow through the apparatus.

In the upper part of the valve-casing 1 is a flexible diaphragm 19, of leather or other suitable material, the outer edge of which is secured between the body and top of said casing. This flexible diaphragm 19 is provided with a central rigid portion 20, preferably in the form of an annular disk, in the center of which is secured a depending partlytubular stem or rod 21, the upper hollow end of which is passed through the rigid portion of the diaphragm and externally screw-threaded for attachment to a tubular internallythreaded cap 22, having an opening 23 in its upper end. It will be seen that by this construetion a tubular chamber 24 is formed in the hollow part of the stem 21 audits cap 22, which chamber communicates through an opening 25 in its lower end with an opening or passage 26, formed transversely through the upper part of the diaphragm-stem. In

this chamber 2% is loosely placed an elongated vertically-movable valve-plug 27, that is normally seated at the lower end of the chamber 24, but is capable of rising under a high pressure of gas, and thereby forms an automatic safety relief-valve.

To the lower end of the rod 21 is pivoted one end of a lever 28, the other end of which is fulcrumed in a knife-edged slot 29, formed in the lower part of the flange 13. This lever 28 is pivotally connected to a lug 30 on the under side of the lower regulating-valve 16, or on the lower end of a bolt 31, by which the valves 14,15, and 16 may be connected, as shown in Fig. 3, in which the valve-stems 17 are represented in tubular form for the passage of said bolt 31, that is secured by a nut 32 on its upper end.

It will be seen that as the valves 1t, 15, and are connected to each other and to the flexible diaphragm 10 they will rise and fall with the latter under varying pressures of gas in the main-valve casing or chamber.

In one side of the quadruple valve-scat casing or inner chamber 6 is a by-pass opening 33, communicating with a similar openin g 3% in the side of a tubular boss 35, projecting from the outside of said chamber, and in which boss is supported a longitudinally-adjustable starting-valve 36, that controls the by-pass. This valve is cylindrical and partly screw-threaded to engage the partly-threaded interior of the boss. The outer end of the valve 36 may be square for attachment of a wrench, and in order to afford access to the starting-valve an opening 37 is provided in the outer valve casing or chamber 1, which opening is closed by a screw-plug 38 or other suitable means.

Vhen the regulator is placed in position and before the gas is turned on, the cut-off valves 14: and are resting on the valveseats 7 and 9, as shown in Fig. 1. If gas is now admitted to the chamber 6, the valve 36 being closed, the pressure on the under side of the valve 11 will not be sufficient to overcome the pressure on the upper side of the valve 15, together with the weight of the dia phragm and its connections, and said valves let and 15 will consequently remain closed and prevent the access of gas to the interior of the outer or main valve casing or chamber 1 until the starting-valve is opened. On closing all the burners supplied through the regulator and opening the startinga-alve 30 gas will enter the casing 1 andaccumulate in sufficient quantity therein to raise the flexible diaphragm 1. 9 and thereby start the valves 1t and 15 from their seats. The valves 15 and 16 are thus brought into position to act in conjunction with the depending valve-seats S and 10 in regulating the pressure and volume of gas admitted to and delivered through the apparatus.

If the supply of gas should be withdrawn from the apparatus by accident or otherwise, the valves 14 and 15 will immediately drop to their seats, and if the starting-valve 36 has been properly adjusted the gas when again turned on will not be able to pass in any large quantity beyond the chamber 6 unless the burners are closed. After starting the valves 14: and 15 the starting-valve should be adjusted to permit the passage of only a small quantity of gas, or about one cubic foot per hour, which will be sufficient to providefor the automatic starting of the cut-off and regulating valves by simply closing all the burners after the gas has been withdrawn from and again supplied to the regulator. the pressure of gas in the casing or chamber 1 become excessive, the diaphragm 19 will rise, thereby closing the valves 15 and 16 against their seats 8 and 10, cutting off the supply momentarily, and a vent being provided through the safety relief-valve 27 the said valves 15 and 16 will quickly fall sufficiently to restore the normal pressure.

\Vhile the valves 14,15, and 16 occupy their normal operative positions clear of their several valve-seats gas will fill the chamber or casing 1 and flow through the outlet 89 to the burners and the pressure will be automatically regulated and controlled by the free vertical movements of the safety cut-off and regulating valves. Besides effectively regulating the pressure, the apparatus will obviate the waste, inconvenience, and danger frequently resulting from the withdrawal of the gas-supply while the burners are lighted and its restoration before they can be closed.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1'. The combination, in a gas-pressure regulator, of a casing having agas-chamber c0ntaining a flexible diaphragm, a valve-casing arranged within the chamber beneath the diaphragm and having a quadruplex valveseat which is adapted to communicate at the top and bottom with the chamber of the easing beneath the diaphragm, a triple valve, a by-pass from the valve-casing to the gaschambcr, a starting-valve for the by-pass, and a rod-connection located within the casing between the diaphragm and the triple valve, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a gas-pressure regulator, of a casing having a gas-chamber containing a flexible diaphragm, a valve-casing arranged wholly within the chamber beneath the diaphragm and having a quadruplex valve-seat which is adapted to communicate at its top and bottom with the chamber of the casing beneath the diaphragm, a triple valve for the valve-casin g, a by-pass from the valve-casing to the gas-chamber, a screw starting-valve adjustable to stand more or less open for varying the quantity of gas passing through the bypass, and a connection between the diaphragm and triple valve, substantially as described.

The combination, in a gas-pressure regulator, of a casing having a gas-chamber containing a flexible diaphragm which is provided with an automatic relief-valve, a valvecasing arranged wholly within the gas-chamber beneath the diaphragm and having a Should IIO qnadrnplex valve-seat which is adapted to tween the diaphragm and the triple VtlXG, communicate at the top and bottom with the substantially as described. 0 chamber of the casingbeneath the diaphragm, In testimony whereof I have affixed my siga triple valve for the valve-easing, a bypass nature in presence of two Witnesses.

5 from the valve-easing t0 the gas-chamber, a II. J. BELL.

starting-Valve adjustable to stand'more 0r Witnesses: less open to Vary the quantity of gas passing JAMES L. NORRIS,

through theby-pass, and a rod-connection be- JAMES A. RUTHERFORD.

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