Patent GB-190405790-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Process for Bleaching or Sterilising and Apparatus therefor.
Inventor: LEETHAM SIDNEY
Filed: 1904-03-09
Granted: 1905-02-23
Abstract: 5790. Leetham, S. March 9. Purifying oils.-Relates to a process for the electrical treatment of air to render it suitable for bleaching, conditioning, or sterilizing oil &c. In Specification No. 21,971, A.D. 1898, [Abridgment Class Grain &c.], two forms of apparatus are described for treating air with a silent and a spark discharge respectively. It is found that a more useful result is obtained by combining these two processes. This may be done by treating separate portions of air in these two ways and blending the products or by passing air through apparatus of the two types in series. The apparatus described in the above-mentioned Specification may be used for this purpose, but the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is preferred. A fireproof casing a contains a dynamo b, a transformer c, an ozonizer d, and in front of the last a discharge apparatus e. The dynamo in the example shown is an alternating-current generator with field excited by an auxiliary direct-current dynamo b<1>. The ozonizer may be of the Andreoli or other wellknown type. The sparking-apparatus e consists of a trunk or conduit of slabs i of slate or other fireproof material, supported on brackets k fixed to the casing h of the ozonizer ; through the top and bottom slabs i pass insulated electrodes m. Air enters the ozonizer by the inlet f, passes to the discharge apparatus by an outlet g, and out of this finally by the outlet l. The apparatus is connected up as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 ; other suitable arrangements of the connections are also shown in the Specification. A window may be provided to allow of the sparks being examined. Fig. 6 shows the transformer o, electrodes p, and the grids q, plates r, and insulators s of the ozonizer. Fig. 4 shows an arrangement for using the gas so treated ; a blower n draws air through a filter n' and forces it by the pipe n<2> to the inlet of the electric apparatus ; after the process of treatment, the air passes by the pipe n<3> to the apparatus u in which the oil &c. is treated. This apparatus may be of either of the kinds described in Specifications No. 10,323, A.D. 1902, and No. 16,472, A.D. 1903, [Abridgment Class Grain &c.], or of any other suitable kind. Fig. 10 shows an arrangement by which the conditions may be varied to produce the best results. The alternating- current dynamo b has its field b<2> excited from terminals t<1>, t<2> through an adjustable resistance b<3>. In the primary circuit of the transformer c is an adjustable impedance coil c' ; in the secondary circuit c<2> of the transformer are the ozonizer d and spark gaps e ; volt-meters c<3>, c<4>, c<5> are provided as shown. An example of suitable conditions of running is given. The dynamo is preferably of the type which gives a peaked wave-form. Besides the above adjustments, the air velocity may be varied, and when necessary magnets may also be used to displace the arc flame. A continuouscurrent spark arrangement has been used, but the method described is preferable. The gas on leaving the apparatus is preferably passed through water so that it does not dry the substance. The Provisional Specification states that the gas may be mixed with any known gaseous .bleaching-agent before use.