Improved Carburetting and Compressing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
Improved Carburetting and Compressing Apparatus.
1.
I, ADOLPHE ISIDORE VAN VRIESLAND, of 78 Sarphatistratt, Amsterdam, Nether-
lands, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
By charging air with hydrocarbons a gaseous mixture is usually made in order
to be utilized as fuel with a view to obtain either heat or light.
One method of charging air with hydrocarbons consists in bringing atmo-
spheric air into contact with liquid hydrocarbons. After a certain period of time
and by repeating this operation several times the air becomes sufficiently
impregnated with hydrocarbons.
Various apparatus are used for carburetting air but this application has for its
object to protect a new apparatus for carburetting air which moreover imparts to
the gaseous mixture a fairly high pressure allowing of its utilization for light
producing, purposes.
The apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention is thus a
carburetting and compressing apparatus. It is capable of being applied as above
stated for producing a gaseous mixture subsequently utilized in gas mains, and it
may be also used for producing a gaseous mixture conveyed, as it issues from such
apparatus,. to suitable heating burners. The pressure will vary, as hereinafter
more fully set forth, according to the dimensions of the apparatus and to its rotary
speed.
My apparatus consists chiefly of a cylinder closed at its two extremities and
divided by a partition into two chambers, one of which, is longer than the other.
The cylinder comprising these two chambers is hermetically closed, apart from the
openings hereinafter indicated which are used for the admission of the hydro-
carbon in the apparatus, for the admission of air and for the out flow of the gaseous
mixture.
In the centre of the lower chamber is arranged a shaft projecting from the left
hand of the apparatus and passing first. through a stuffing box. This shaft is
provided outside the apparatus either with a crank handle or with a driving pulley
imparting a rotary, motion thereto. Upon this shaft and within the chamber is
mounted a hollow drum which is closed on the .left hand side by a tray or disc
fixed upon the shaft. Strengthening ribs impart sufficient rigidity to the disc and
prevent the same from warping. At its right hand end the hollow drum is like-
wise closed so as not to communicate with the chamber. Upon the drum thus
mounted on the shaft are formed four spiral conduits which are parallel one to the
other. These conduits are, coiled around the drum.. They may consist of tubes
fixed by any suitable means upon the drum or of small partitions fixed upon the
outer periphery of the drum. The conduits formed by these partitions are sub-
sequently closed by a shell or lamellae fixed above in any suitable manner. The
first conduit starts from the right hand side extends along the horizontal diameter
of the drum and ascends, while being coiled upon the said drum, in order to pass
behind the second conduit which commences at the top of the drum and extends
along the vertical diameter thereof. These two conduits are coiled parallel one to
D
077

page_text: the other and pass afterwards behind the third conduit starting along the hori-
zontal diameter of the drum towards the left hand side. The three parallel conduits
continue to be coiled and pass behind the starting point of the first conduit and so
on. The conduits instead of starting flush with the drum have each a slightly
projecting end so that they debouch in the chamber outside the drum.
The four conduits above mentioned are thus coiled parallel one to the other all
over the drum having inclined convolutions, the inclination or dip of which may
vary for each apparatus. As they reach the end of the drum, cach conduit com-
municates through another conduit extending along one of the axes of the drum
with a box arranged in the centre of the right hand end of the drum.
The second conduit for instance is extended to the centre by a radial conduit and
the third, fourth and lastly the first conduits are similarly each prolonged by a
radial conduit. These four radial conduits debouch at right angles to one another
in a central chamber which communicates through the hollow part of the shaft
with the smaller chamber of the cylinder. A stuffing box prevents the larger and
smaller chambers from communicating directly one with the other. The larger
chamber is provided with an opening or neck upon which is screwed either a
funnel for feeding the liquid hydrocarbons, or a cap or stopper to close the opening.
Moreover this chamber communicates with a valve allowing the atmospheric air to
enter it. The valve may be regulated so as to only open when the depression in
the chamber has reached a given limit. Obviously this valve is arranged so as
to prevent the escape of the air or gas contained in the chamber; it can but admit
air in the apparatus.
The second or smaller chamber communicates with an
expansion valve or apparatus of any suitable construction which is connected to
the pipe supplying the carburetted air to the apparatus where it is to be utilized.
At the lower part of this chamber is arranged a valve enabling the smaller chamber
to communicate with the longer chamber and connected to a ball so that it can only be
opened when the level of the liquid in the smaller chamber has reached a certain-
height. The arrangement of the ball is such that the valve is closed before the
level of the liquid has fallen below the communicating opening.
I shall now proceed to describe the modus operandi of my apparatus. Into the
funnel I pour some hydrocarbon which runs into the longer chamber so that the
level of this liquid in such chamber may be sufficiently high to allow the ends of
the conduits to dip successively in the hydrocarbon as they are rotating. A rotary
motion being now imparted to the shaft each end of the conduits will dip in turn
into the hydrocarbon, and in order to fully explain the working of the apparatus,
I shall indicate the manner of operating of tube 1 for instance, the other tubes
acting obviously in a similar manner.
The tube dips as it rotates into the hydrocarbon and a quantity of this liquid
enters the conduit. When the end of the tube is withdrawn from the hydro-
carbon it accomplishes one revolution in the air contained in the chamber until it
comes back again to dip, a second time into the hydrocarbon. As the conduit is
a spiral it will successively contain liquid layers separated by layers of air and
owing to the rotary motion these liquid layers thus separated by layers of air will
move in the first conduit from the left hand of the apparatus to the right side
thereof. After a number of turns, a given portion of the liquid or gas, having
entered the mouth of the first conduit, will pass through the first radial conduit
into the central chamber. From this chamber the air and the hydrocarbon pro-
ceed to the smaller or compression chamber of the cylinder, the hydrocarbon sinks
to the bottom and the air spreads in this chamber. Now, as the expansion valve
or apparatus is regulated to a given pressure, the air which is highly charged with
hydrocarbon in consequence of its contact with the liquid will not be able to escape
until the pressure has reached a given degree, and as, on the other hand, the drum
continues to rotate and that hence carburetted air enters the compression chamber
constantly, this carburetted air will become compressed and as soon as the required
pressure is reached it will escape through the expansion or pressure valve and enter
the main where it is intended to be utilized, and the supply will soon become
S..
!

page_text: regular and continuous. It will be readily understood that the pressure to be
attained in the compression chamber is limited, such limit corresponding to the
height of the various liquid convolutions contained in one of the conduits.
The hydrocarbon reaching the compression chamber sinks at the bottom of such
chamber, as already stated, and gradually raises a ball or float which opens the
valve and in consequence of the pressure exerted above the level of the hydro-
carbon, the latter returns into the first chamber until the ball closes the valve.
There is thus no other loss of hydrocarbon than that used to enrich the air, the
hydrocarbon returning to its starting point.
It is obvious that, with regard to the air in the first chamber as the rotation
continues, and in consequence of the depression produced by this rotation, the
valve is raised and the atmospheric air enters the chamber.
In the above description I have indicated four parallel conduits, but it is
obvious that I may use a lesser or greater number of such conduits.
On a small scale I may cause the shaft to rotate by the fall of a weight suspended
at the end of a cord wound upon a drum mounted on the shaft. In this case the
stoppage of the compressor takes place automatically, whenever the carburetted air
shall not be utilized, as the pressure in the compression chamber will be sufficient
to prevent the falling of the weight.
Amongst the advantages. of my improved compressor the following are worthy
of mention.
1. The heat produced by the compression compensates that which is absorbed by
the carburation in such a manner that contrarywise to that which takes place in a
great number of carburetters no lowering of temperature occurs within the
apparatus.
2. The liquid hydrocarbon moves in a continuous manner from the compressor
to the separating chamber.
I may utilize my carburetter and compressor either as an air or gas compressor
only, the hydrocarbon being then replaced by water or by any other liquid having
no action on gas and water.
Dated this 16th day of July 1807
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Carburetting and Compressing Apparatus.
I, ADOLPHE ISIDORE VAN VRIESLAND, of 78 Sarphatistratt, Amsterdam, Nether-
lands, Engineer, 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:-
By charging air with hydrocarbons a gaseous mixture is made which is capable
of being utilized as fuel with a view to obtain either heat or light.
One method of charging air with hydrocarbons consists in bringing atmospheric
air into contact wth liquid hydrocarbons. After a certain period of time and by
repeating this operation several times the air becomes sufficiently impregnated
with hydrocarbons.
Various apparatus are used for carburetting air but this application has for its
object to protect a new apparatus for carburetting air which moreover imparts to
the
gaseous mixture a fairly high pressure allowing of its utilization for light pro-
ducing purposes.
.:

page_text: The apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention' is thus a carburet-
ting and compressing apparatus. It is capable of being applied as above stated for
producing a gaseous mixture subsequently utilized in gas mains, and it may, be also
used for producing a gaseous mixture conveyed, as it issues from such apparatus,
to suitable heating burners. The pressure will vary, as hereinafter more fully set
forth, according to the dimensions of the apparatus and to its rotary speed.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a
longitudinal vertical section. Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 1-2 of
Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 34 of Figure 1.
My apparatus consists chiefly of a cylinder closed at its two extremities and
divided by a partition A into two chambers B and C, one of which, B, is longer
than the other C. The cylinder comprising these two chambers B, C, is hermetic-
ally closed, apart from the openings hereinafter indicated which are used for the
admission of the hydrocarbon in the apparatus, for the admission of air and for
the out flow of the gaseous mixture.
In the centre of the chamber B is arranged a shaft D projecting from the left
hand of the apparatus and passing first through a stuffing box E. This shaft D
is provided outside the apparatus either with a crank handle or with a driving
pulley imparting a rotary motion thereto. Upon this shaft D) and within the
chamber is mounted a hollow drum F which is closed on the left hand side by
a tray or disc G fixed upon the shaft D. Strengthening ribs g impart sufficient
rigidity to the disc G and prevent the same from warping. At its right hand end
the hollow drum F is likewise closed so as not to communicate with the chamber B.
Upon the drum F thus mounted on the shaft D are formed four spiral conduits 1,
2, 3, 4, which are parallel one to the other. These conduits are coiled around the
drum F. They may consist of tubes fixed by any suitable means upon the drum
or of small partitions f fixed upon the outer periphery of the drum. The conduits
formed by these partitions f are subsequently closed by a shell or lamellae H
fixed above in any suitable manner, as indicated at Figure 1. As indicated at
Figure 2 which shows the spiral conduits at the left hand side of the apparatus, the
first conduit 1, starts from the right hand side, of the drum and ascends, while
being coiled upon the said drum, in order to pass behind the second conduit 2,
which commences at the top of the drum. These two conduits are coiled parallel
one to the other and pass afterwards behind the third conduit 3, starting towards
the left hand side of the drum. The three parallel conduits continue to be coiled
around the drum and pass behind the conduit 4, which starts at the lower end
of the vertical diameter. The four parallel conduits continue in coiled form and
pass behind the starting point of the first conduit and so on, as indicated at
Figure 1. The conduits 1, 2, 3, 4, instead of starting flush with the drum F have
each a slightly projecting end as indicated at Figure 2, so that they debouch in
the chamber B outside the drum F.
The four conduits 1, 2, 3, 4, above mentioned are thus coiled parallel one to the
other all over the drum having inclined convolutions, the inclination or dip of
which may vary for each'apparatus. As they reach the end of the drum, each
conduit communicates through another conduit extending along one of the axes of
the drum with a box I arranged in the centre of the right hand end of the drum.
As shown at Figure 3, the second conduit 2 for instance is extended to the centre
by a radial conduit 2', the third conduit 3 by a radial conduit 31, the fourth conduit
by a radial conduit 41, and lastly, the first conduit 1, by the radial conduit 1.
These four radial conduits 1, 2, 31, 41, debouch at right angles to one another in a
central chamber I which communicates through the hollow part J of the shaft D
with the smaller chamber C of the cylinder. ..A stuffing box j prevents the larger
and smaller chambers B and C from communicating directly one with the other.
The larger chamber B is provided with an opening or neck B' upon which is screwed
either a funnel K for feeding the liquid hydrocarbons, or a cap or stopper & to close
the opening B. Moreover this chamber B communicates with a valve L allowing
the atmospheric air to enter the chamber. The valve may be regulated so as to

page_text: only open when the depression in the chamber has reached a given limit.
Obviously this valve is arranged so as to prevent the air-escape of the air or gas
contained in the chamber; it can but admit air in the apparatus. The second or
smaller chamber C communicates with an expansion valve or apparatus M of any
suitable construction which is connected to the pipe supplying the carburetted air
to the apparatus where it is to be utilized. At the lower part of this chamber C
is arranged a valve N enabling the smaller chamber C to communicate with the
longer chamber B, and connected to a ball n so that it can only be opened when the
level of the liquid in the smaller chamber C has reached a certain height. The
arrangement of the ball is such that the valve is closed before the level of the liquid
has fallen below the communicating opening.nl.
I shall now proceed to describe the modus operandi of my apparatus. Into the
funnel K, I pour some hydrocarbon which runs into the longer chamber so that the
level of this liquid in such chamber may rise to about x-y as indicated by Figure 2,
that level being sufficiently high to allow the ends of the conduits 1, 2, 3, 4, to dip
successively in the hydrocarbon as they are rotating. A rotary motion being now
imparted to the shaft D each of the ends of the conduits 1, 2, 3, 4, will dip in turn
into the hydrocarbon, and in order to fully explain the working of the apparatus,
I shall indicate the manner of operating of tube 1, for instance, the other tubes
acting obviously in a similar manner.
The tube 1, dips as it rotates into the hydrocarbon, and a quantity of this liquid
enters the conduit. When the end of the tube 1, is withdrawn from the hydro-
carbon it accomplishes one revolution in the air contained in the chamber B until
it comes back again to dip a second time into the hydrocarbon. As the conduit 1,
is a spiral it will successively contain liquid layers separated by layers of air and
owing to the rotary motion these liquid layers thus separated by layers of air will
move in the first conduit from the left hand of the apparatus to the right side
thereof, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. After a number of turns, a given
portion of the liquid or gas, having entered the mouth of the conduit 1, will pass
through the first radial conduit 11 into the central chamber I. From this
chamber I the air and the hydrocarbon proceed to the smaller or compression
chamber C of the cylinder, the hydrocarbon sinks to the bottom and the air spreads
in this chamber. Now, as the expansion valve or apparatus M is regulated to a
given pressure, the air which is highly charged with hydrocarbon in consequence
of its contact with the liquid will not be able to escape until the pressure has reached
a given degree, and as, on the other hand, the drum F continues to rotate and that
hence carburetted air enters the compression chamber C constantly, this carburetted
air will become compressed and as soon as the required pressure is reached it will
escape through the expansion or pressure valve M and enter the main where it is
intended to be utilized, and the supply will soon become regular and continuous.
It will be readily understood that the pressure to be attained in the compression
chamber C is limited, such limit corresponding to the weight of the various liquid
convolutions contained in any one of the conduits 1, 2, 3 or 4.
The hydrocarbon reaching the compression chamber C sinks at the bottom of
such chamber, as already stated, and gradually raises the ball or float n which opens
the valve N and in consequence of the pressure exerted above the level of the
hydrocarbon, the latter returns into the first chamber B until the ball closes the
valve N. There is thus no other loss of hydrocarbon than that used to enrich
the air, the hydrocarbon returning to its starting point.
It is obvious that, with regard to the air in the first chamber B, as the rotation
continues, and in consequence of the depression produced by this rotation, the
valve L is raised and the atmospheric air enters the chamber B.
In the above description I have indicated four parallel conduits 1, 2, 3, 4, but
it is obvious that I may use a lesser or greater number of such conduits.
On a small scale I may cause the shaft D to rotate by the fall of a weight
suspended at 'the end of a cord' wound upon a drum mounted on the shaft. In this
case the stoppage of the compressor takes place automatically, whenever the

page_text: carburetted air shall not be utilized, as the pressure in the compression chamber C
will be sufficient to prevent the falling of the weight.
When the shaft is actuated by a motor I may provide an arrangement for auto-
matically stopping the motor when the carburetted gas not being used.
Amongst the advantages of my improved compressor the following are worthy
of mention.
1. The heat produced by the compression compensates that which is absorbed
by the carburation in such a manner that contrarywise to that which takes place
in a great number of carburetters no lowering of temperature occurs within the
apparatus.
2. The liquid hydrocarbon moves in a continuous manner from the compressor
to the separating chamber.
I may utilize my carburetter and compressor either as an air or gas compressor
only, the hydrocarbon being then replaced by water or by any other liquid having
no action on gas and water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
The improved carburetting and compressing apparatus hereinbefore described
with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 29th day of December 1897.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.*