Patent GB-191118465-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Methods of Raising or Forcing Liquids or Compressing Gases and in Apparatus therefor.
Inventor: HUMPHREY HERBERT ALFRED
Filed: 1911-08-15
Granted: 1912-08-15
Abstract: 18,465. Humphrey, H. A., and Rusdell, W. J. Aug. 15. Direct explosion apparatus. - Comprises a method of operating internal-combustion pumps which have no fly-wheel but have suitably heavy reciprocating masses, wherein the energy or a part thereof which causes a return stroke towards the combustion chamber or chambers is limited by limiting the portion of such stroke which occurs under the influence of the delivery pressure. The invention is applicable to case where the return flow of the liquid column is effected by means of an air-vessel at the end of the play pipe, as described in Specifications 18,594/07, 18,595/07, 19,341/07, 22,646/07, and 19,617/10, as well as to cases where the return flow is due merely to the delivery head of liquid, and may be employed in cases where the reciprocating mass is partly solid and partly liquid, or is wholly solid. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the partial return flow is controlled by means of a float 5 working in an air-vessel 8 and sliding between two stops on the stem of the delivery valve 4. During the delivery stroke, the water rises in the airvessel 8, and, when the liquid comes to rest, the valve 4 is held off its seat by the float 5 until the return flow has commenced, whereupon the water sinks in the air-vessel and the float 5 permits the valve to shut off further communication between the delivery pipe 7 and the play pipe 2, thus limiting the amount of energy imparted to the returning water column. The further movement of the water towards the combustion chamber 1 draws in fresh water through the inlet valves 3. The following modifications are described : (1) The float may be replaced by a piston working in a cylinder which constitutes the air-vessel, and an air chamber of adjustable volume may be connected to the cylinder for the purpose of regulating the action of the apparatus. (2) The float and valve may be combined in a single spherical float valve working in a short open - topped cylindrical chamber within the air-vessel. The cylindrical chamber can be made to slide vertically for the purpose of adjusting the quantity of liquid which is allowed to return into the play pipe. (3) The delivery valve may have a resilient seat to prevent shock. (4) The return flow of liquid in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 may be limited by enclosing the float and valve in an open-topped cylindrical chamber inside the air-vessel so that the backward flow ceases approximately at the moment when the level of water in the air-vessel descends below the upper edge of this chamber. (5) The delivery valve may be made cone-shaped, and means may be provided to maintain a small volume of air beneath it to act as an air-cushion at the end of the play pipe. During the backward flow, the water-inlet valves 3 would, in this case, only open after the air-cushion has expanded to a certain extent. (6) When liquid is delivered into a conical water - tower 22, Fig. 7. an air-vessel 23 may be provided at the end of the play pipe 2, and the delivery valve may take the form of a piston valve situated between the air-vessel and the water-tower. The period of time elapsing before the valve 4 is closed by the rush of water returning from the tower 22 into the play pipe during the return stroke is regulated by means of a dashpot 26. The action of the apparatus may also be controlled by means of an air-valve fitted at the bottom of an adjustable dip pipe in the air-vessel 23. (7) A piston valve, such as is shown in Fig. 7, may be employed in place of the float and valve device shown in Fig. 1. (8) When the combustion chamber is at a lower level than the supply liquid, so that the liquid flows from the inlet valves 3 towards the combustion chamber by gravity, the return flow from the delivery pipe can be reduced to the smallest limits necessary to produce the initial acceleration of water in the play pipe. (9) In cases where the delivery head is great, an air-vessel or piston chamber working on the well-known intensifier principle may be fitted near the end of the play pipe. (10) The spherical float valve referred to under (2) above may be replaced by an inverted conical float valve seating upon a conical seat. (11) The return flow may be partly brought about by means of a piston working in a cylinder connected to the end of the play pipe and subjected on its outer surface to a constant head of pressure from a tank other than the delivery tank, and in certain cases there need be no return flow from the main delivery pipe. (12) Fig. 13 shows the invention applied to a pump with a solid reciprocating mass 42, 43. The delivery valve 4 may be controlled by a dash-pot 25 regulated by means of the valves 46. 47 as shown, and the inlet valve 50 for liquid mav likewise be regulated by a dash-pot 51. (13) The play pipe may be arranged vertically with the combustion chamber at the top. (14) The invention may be applied to the compression of air by means of an apparatus such as is shown in Fig. 15. An explosion in the combustion chamber 1 raises the solid piston 42 and forces air, which has previously been drawn in through the air-inlet valves 56, past the piston valve 4 and guides 16 into the compressed-air reservoir 8, the piston 42 finally coming into contact with the piston 4. The return stroke occurs under the combined action of the compressed air and the weight of the piston 42 until the piston 4 is brought to rest by the air buffer in the dash-pot 25, whereupon the piston 42 continues its downward movement, drawing in fresh air through the valves 56 and compressing a charge of gas below it ready for the next explosion. (15) Fig. 16 shows a form of apparatus suitable for use at the foot of a well. The combustion chamber is situated at the top of the play pipe 2 at ground level, and the water is delivered through a pipe 7 leading from the air-vessel 8. The delivery valve 4 works in a cylinder 14 having perforations through which the liquid is delivered, and the return stroke is effected by the expansion of the air in the air-vessel. The suction valve 3 is of annular form. At starting, compressed air is supplied to the air-vessel 8 and to the suctionair vessel by pipes 63, 64 leading from the surface.