Improvements in or connected with the Overflow Pipes of Distillation and Absorption Columns.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Overflow Pipes of
Distillation and Absorption Columns.
I, HEINRICH HIRZEL of 13, Nonnenstrasse, Leipzig-Plagwitz in the Empire-
of Germany, Professor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the distillation of liquids which contain solid substances or deposit light
incrustations, the overflow pipes of the columns frequently become stopped in such
a way that the working is thereby interrupted. My improved cleaning device has
for its object to remove these drawbacks. It is shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; Figure 2 a horizontal
section, and Figure 3 a detail, in which the principal improvement is shown.
Scrapers D are mounted on a common spindle C running all through in the
overflow pipes, which lie vertically one under the other (or the said scrapers may
be connected with one another by means of couplings) and revolve with the
spindle C so that any incrustation or deposits in any case adhering to the internal
walls of the pipes are constantly scraped away by these scrapers. The incrusta-
tions or deposits fall on dishes E beneath the overflow pipes B and are delivered to
the outside by means of two straight or, still better, curved arms_d, prolonged to
the outside of the overflow pipe and situated under the scrapers D, and the said
incrustations, mud, or deposits are discharged with the liquid so that the spaces.
between the tube and the dish always remain free and the liquid can flow through
the same unimpededly.
In order that special stuffing boxes shall not be requisite for the spindle C of
the scrapers at the place where it passes through the dishes E, projections or
sockets e are provided on those dishes which do not carry an overflow tube, which
sockets or projections are somewhat higher than the highest level of the liquid in
the dishes. These sockets serve as bearings for the spindle C and small inverted
cups c are attached to the shaft C above these sockets to overhang them and serve
as water joints, that is to say, on the liquid flowing over them down the overflow
pipes, and on the incrustations or deposits being removed, the liquid and the
deposits are kept away from the openings for the shaft C.
Instead of making this spindle or shaft C in one piece, it may for the purpose
of being conveniently erected be specially made for each division of a column
or for a suitable number of such divisions, the several sections of spindle being
then suitably connected together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
In distilling and absorption columns, a device for keeping the overflow pipes.
free from incrustation, mud, deposits, or the like, characterised by scrapers (D).
mounted within the overflow pipes on a spindle (C), and having beaters or arms (d)
below said overflow pipes whereby without interruption of the working of the
column apparatus, the discharge openings for the liquid, and gases or vapours
may be kept free by rotating or oscillating said scrapers (D) and arms (e), a

page_text: liquid joint being made where the spindle passes through the dishes by means
of projections or sockets (e) on the latter which form a bearing for the spindle,
and inverted cups (c) overhanging said sockets substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of May 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.