Patent GB-190718594-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Methods of Raising or Forcing Liquids and in Apparatus therefor.
Inventor: HUMPHREY HERBERT ALFRED
Filed: 1907-08-16
Granted: 1908-08-13
Abstract: 18,594. Humphrey, H. A. Aug. 16. Direct explosivegas pressure apparatus ; momentum apparatus.-Relates to various constructions of apparatus, of the type described in Specification No. 20,736, A.D. 1906, for raising and forcing liquids by the explosion of a combustible mixture in a chamber, wherein the momentum of the expelled column of liquid is utilized to effect the compression of the fresh charge in the combustion chamber. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the combustion chamber 1 is fitted with a single pivoted valve 4 which alternately closes the supply pipe 2 and the delivery pipe 3, but two valves suitably linked together may be used. On explosion and expansion of the charge supplied through the valve 7, the liquid in the chamber 1 is forced along the pipe 3 ; and when the pressure falls sufficiently. the liquid in the pipe 2 connected with the supply tank tilts over the valve 4. Liquid from this tank at the level a a then enters the hamber 1 with an oscillatory movement, first rising say to b b and expelling the waste gases, together with scavenging air when such is admitted, past the valve 6, and then falling and drawing in afresh charge. During this action, the liquid previously expelled along the discharge pipe has expended its momentum in the outward direction and some of it returns under the head to which it is raised, tilting over the valve 4 and compressing the charge prior to the next explosion. An auxiliary suction pipe 20 connected with the supply tank communicates through a non-return valve 9 with the delivery pipe 3, and liquid is drawn from this pipe by the momentum of the liquid expelled along the delivery pipe. The inlet and exhaust valves 7, 6 are controlled from the valve 4 by a rod 22, cranks, levers, and springs, and the movement of the valve 4 may be regulated by a dash-pot 39. When the supply tank is situated above the chamber 1, the seating of the exhaust valve is carried down into the chamber below that of the inlet valve so that when the supply pipe is opened after explosion and expansion, the supply water first sweeps out most of the waste gases, then comes in contact with, and closes, the exhaust valve, and traps the remaining gases on the top of the chamber. These gases then expand to depress the liquid for drawin in the fresh charge. In this arrangement, the inlet and exhaust valves are connected by links and locking-mechanism so as to operate in correct sequence. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement in which the expelled liquid has an injection action for inducing liquid along the auxiliary supply pipe 20, which is fitted with a regulating-cock 59, and in dotted lines is shown a main supply pipe extended downwards in U-shape to prolong the period of oscillation and thus of the exhaust and admission. This oscillation may also be modified by the explosion effect by arranging the end of the pipe 20 in the U-shaped supply pipe so that it has an inductive action. When the supply tank is arranged some distance from the chamber 1, the cock 59, Fig. 6, may be replaced by a throttle valve controlled from the valve 4 so that the expelled liquid can induce a flow of liquid from the tank along the supply pipe, and this effect is increased if the movement of the valve 4 to close the delivery pipe is retarded. The auxiliary supply pipe may be connected to a separate supply tank arranged above or below. A definite charge of explosive can be supplied to the combustion chamber 1, Fig. 11, by means of a piston 65, working in the supply pipe 2. This piston is raised by the rising liquid and descends with it, the charge drawn in being equivalent to the portion of the supply pipe through which the piston descends. In this case, the valve 4 is replaced by a throttle valve 67 controlled from the piston-rod 66. A definite charge of the combustible mixture or a constituent of it can also be supplied by inducing it into the delivery pipe by injection action of the expelled liquid, and the charge can be regulated by adjusting the cock in the auxiliary supply pipe. In a modification, the valve 4 only works between the supply-pipe seating and a stop at its vertical position, and on explosion some liquid from the supply pipe can flow over the valve and along the delivery pipe, the auxiliary pipe being dispensed with. In this case, if the valve 4 does not close the supply pipe immediately on the return of the expelled liquid, some of it can flow along the supply pipe so that a greater velocity is attained, and consequently higher compression of the charge is effected. The charge, or a portion of it, may be introduced through the supply pipe 2, Fig. 24, from a bell 168 mounted in the supply tank 58 and provided with perforations 169 having a regulating-cover 170 to control the passage of liquid into the bell and so to the supply pipe, the charge being drawn into the bell by the oscillation in the supply pipe after explosion. In this arrangement the delivery pipe 3 may be dispensed with, the liquid being expelled along a pipe 3<a> from which the supply pipe 2 fitted with a non-return valve branches. The periodicity of the cycle may be varied by varying the dimensions of the pipes or by introducing air vessels controlled by cocks so that they may be out of, partly in, or wholly in action, a suitable arrangement being described for use when the expelled liquid is employed to drive a Pelton wheel. These air vessels are fitted with non-return valves, float-operated valves, or valves closing by hydraulic-ram action, and may be employed for starting-up, compressing the charge, or inducing the flow in the supply pipe, as well as for regulation of the flow in the delivery pipe. The supply and delivery pipes may be duplicated. Fig. 15 shows duplicate discharge pipes connected to reservoirs at different levels for making the apparatus act more rapidly. The expelled liquid passes along the branch 3<a>, and the return liquid for compressing the charge along 3<b>, some of which may also pass along 3<a> to maintain a continuous delivery. An arrangement for keeping separate the liquid that comes in contact with the products of combustion from the expelled liquid is shown in Fig. 25, and comprises a diaphragm 174 provided in the discharge pipe 3. Excessive movement of the diaphragm acts through arms 177, 178 and a link 184 to control by-pass valves in the dash-pot 39, which regulates the movement of the valve 4 and so restores normal conditions. In another arrangement for this purpose, a U- shaped pipe inserted between the chamber 1 and pipe 3 and containing, at its lower part, mercury or other dense liquid working between controlling- floats may be used. The ignition apparatus for exploding the charge is constructed with a chamber 147, Fig. 23, connected with the delivery side of the diaphragm shown in Fig. 25 by a pipe 148 provided with a valve 149 freely mounted between springs 151, 152 on a rod 150, which is secured to the upper end of a float 157 in a tube 158 containing mercury. An external conductor 156 passes from the mercury in the tube 158, and another conductor 159 extends from the float to work over two insulators 161, 162 and a conductor 163 connected with a wire 164 extending into the closed end of a U tube 165 containing mercury, an external conductor 166 extending into the open end thereof. The returning column of liquid in the discharge pipe for compressing the charge rises and flows past the valve 149 into the chambers 147, raising the float 157 and depressing the mercury in the open end of the tube 165 so that the conductors 166, 164 are electrically connected. The compressed elastic medium in the top of chamber 147 then reacts to force back the liquid, which immediately depresses the valve 149, and the float is consequently drawn down so that the circuit is completed between conductors 159, 163 to produce a spark in the combustion chamber. The quantity of mercury in the tube 165 is regulated so that the circuit is not completed at excessive or low compression. The known methods of varying the work per stroke employed in gas engines may be employed for varying the ignition and the charge. In starting-up, the charge is pumped in by hand and ignited by a short-circuiting switch. To prevent stoppage in case of misfire, the auxiliary supply pipe may be normally or temporarily held open by a spring so that a greater compression is produced by permitting the velocity of inward flow to become greater, the compressed charge consequently reacting in a similar manner to a feeble explosion. Two sets of the apparatus may be controlled to operate so that a constant delivery is obtained.