An Improved Automatic Regulator for Humidifiers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov. 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Regulator for Humidifiers.
We, WILLIAM THOMSON, Royal Institution Laboratory, Manchester, Analytical
Chemist, HARRY SMITH 33 Withington Road, Whalley Range, Manchester,
Chemist, and JOSEPH MARSHALL, Millwood Iron Works, Hyde, near Manchester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Parchment
Our invention relates to an improved automatic method of keeping the air in
weaving sheds and other rooms at a constant degree of humidity. For this purpose
we take a strip of parchment or parchment paper from about 10 to 40 inches in
length by about 1 or 2 inches in width by about 18th to 20th part of an inch
in thickness but we do not confine ourselves to these dimensions.
paper is made by treating unsized or blotting paper with sulphuric acid and
afterwards washing and drying in a manner well known to chemists. This paper
and also ordinary parchment elongates as the atmosphere becomes moist and
contracts as the atmosphere becomes dry in a very marked manner, and these
substances we found by a long series of experiments to be the materials most
regularly affected by such alterations in the humidity of the atmosphere whilst they
stretch little under tension or by change of temperature. A strip of either of
these materials is arranged by preference in a perforated metal tube or case which
is attached to a valve for regulating the supply of water to an atomiser, spray
producer, or humidifier, or to a series of them or it may be arranged to allow
air to pass under pressure so as to blow water (which may be regulated by a
ball tap and cistern) into spray after the manner of an ordinary scent spray, or
in the same way the valve will allow steam to pass so as to be distributed by a
nozzle or by nozzles into the room. The manner of performing this we describe as
follows:-
We take a valve shewn in section in Fig. 1 and in cross section in Fig. 2 which
is made of brass by preference. This is supplied with water, air, or steam, in the
direction of the arrow. When the valve (c) is raised the water, air, or steam flows
through the valve seat (b) from the chamber (A) to the chamber (B) and on to the
humidifier or in the case of steam to the nozzle or nozzles.
The valve (c) Figs. 1 & 2 is attached to the spindle (d) which passes through
the stuffing box (f) and the gland (e). To the top of this spindle is attached the
adjustable dead weight (G) but which by preference we suspend from a stirrup (C),
the point or knife edge (a) Fig. 1 (a) resting on the inverted cone or V shaped
groove cut in the top of the spindle (d) Fig. 1 (a).
One end of a strip of parchment or parchment paper (Y) is fixed in the
clamp (m) attached either to the projecting end of the spindle which must thus
pass through the weight or weights which it supports or directly to the weight or
weights in which case the bottom of the weight must be attached to the spindle as
it projects from the gland. The strip (Y) passes over a roller in the top of the
case and downwards to the bottom where the end of the strip of parchment or
parchment paper is fixed in the clamp (H) Fig. 2 to which is attached the adjusting
screw (J) which is adjusted by the nut (K) which again is fixed by the lock
nut (L) at the bottom of the perforated tube or case (N). This case is supported
and held firmly in position by the projecting arms or circular or other shaped

page_text: metal plate (PP) which is fixed to the body of the valve (AB). This arrangement
reduces the length of the case (N) but when this is not considered of importance,
the adjusting screw and nuts may be fixed to a disc resting on the top of the
case (N).
It may be necessary in some cases to fix the parchment or parchment paper strip
in a horizontal position or to use a shorter strip of parchment paper than usual; in
either case we fix the strip to an L leg lever (QQ) as shewn in Fig. 3. The
arrangement of the valve and spindle remains the same as in Figs. 1 & 2 whilst
the case (N) Fig. 1 containing the strip and adjusting screws is placed in a
horizontal position and supported by the brackets (TT) on the pipe (S) Fig. 3,
conveying the water or air, or from any other support or supports.
If the strip he
fixed to the vertical leg of the lever as shewn in Fig. 3 as far from the centre (V)
as (V) is from the centre (W) on the horizontal leg, the lineal contraction of the
strip would be equal to the lift of the valve, but if the attachment be placed on
the vertical leg one half the distance from the centre or fulcrum (V) that (V) is
from the centre (W) then the lift of the valve would be double the lineal
contraction of the strip and by this means greater sensitiveness would be
obtained.
The apparatus shewn in Fig. I may also be fixed upside down and this would be
of special advantage when attached to a steam pipe as the hot air which rises
would then not affect the parchment or parchment paper strip. If this arrangement
be adopted, a straight lever is attached to the spindle at the centre (W) as shewn
in Fig. 3, to the fulcrum (V) and extended beyond in a straight line, to the free
end of this lever is attached a weight sufficient to keep the valve in its seat so that
it would only be drawn out of its seat by the contraction of the parchment or
parchment paper strip which is attached directly to the spindle in either of the
methods described in Fig. 1, that is to say, with or without, a roller, but in either
case with the weight on the end of the lever instead of being placed as a dead
weight over the spindle.
The working of this apparatus is obvious:-The parchment or parchment paper
strip is left slack and the valve remains closed and the humidifiers out of action
until the air shows for some time a proper degree of humidity and at which it is
required to keep the room or shed, the adjusting nut (K) is then screwed down so
as to tighten the strip almost to the point at which the valve begins to be raised
from its seat so as to produce leakage of the water, air, or steam through the valve
seat (b) the supply to which it is desired to regulate, it is obvious then that if the
air becomes drier the strip will contract and raise the valve and allow the
humidifiers to throw water or steam into the room till the strip by reason of
the humidity thus produced elongates sufficiently to allow the valve to close by
the expansion of the strip to the point at which it was adjusted when the action
of the humidifiers would cease. We prefer to employ one of our regulators
for every humidifier which we prefer to place about 10 yards apart but the
distance depends on the efficiency of the particular form of humidifier employed.
Where great variations of temperature take place we employ an arrangement
for compensating for the elongation of the metallic case by. means similar to those
employed in the grid-iron pendulum for retaining the same distance between the
point of suspension and the centre of oscillation; this is accomplished by taking an
outer iron case (for instance) perforated with holes, lying upon or attached to the
top of which is an inner case having an outer flange at the top and an inner flange
at the bottom made of zinc or other metal having a greater coefficient of expansion
than iron, on the inner or bottom flange of the second or zinc case rests or is fixed
a third case made of iron or similar metal to the outer case, or it may be of any
other metal or substance whose coefficient of expansion is less than the second or
middle case.
The respective lengths of these three cases being calculated and
made according to their relative coefficients of expansion, so that the expansion of
the outer and innermost cases upwards would be exactly counterbalanced by the
expansion of the middle case downwards, the screw ()) passing through and the

page_text: adjusting nuts (KL) being adjusted against the plate (pp), the roller being fixed
at the top of the innermost case.
Dated this 93rd day of November 100:
WILLIAM THOMSON.
HARRY SMITH.
JOSEPH MARSHALL.
An improved Automatic Regulator for Humidiners.
We, WILLIAM THOMSON, Royal Institution Laboratory, Manchester, Analytical
Chemist, HARRY SMITH, 33 Withington Road, Whalley Range, Manchester
Chemist, and JOSEPH MARSHALL, Millwood Ironworks, Hyde, near Manchester,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to he particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improved automatic method of keeping the air in
weaving sheds and other rooms at a constant degree of humidity.
For this purpose we take a strip or strips joined end to end of parchment or
parchment paper from about 10 to 60 inches in length by about 1 or 2 inches in
width by about Tooth to both part of an inch in thickness but we do not confine
ourselves to these dimensions.
Parchment paper is made by treating unsized or blotting paper with sulphuric
acid and afterwards washing in water in a manner well known to chemists. This
paper and also ordinary parchment elongates as the atmosphere becomes moist and
contracts as the atmosphere becomes dry in a very marked manner and these
substances we found by a long series of experiments to be the materials best suited
for our purpose, as they are the most regularly affected by such alterations in the
humidity of the atmosphere whilst they stretch little under tension or by change of
temperature per se.
A strip of either of these materials is arranged in an open frame or in a
perforated or louvered metal tube or case which is attached to a valve for
regulating the supply of water to an atomiser, spray producer, or humidifier, or to
a series of them, or it may be arranged to allow air to pass under pressure so as to
blow water (which may be regulated by a ball tap and cistern) into spray after
the manner of an ordinary scent spray, or in the same way the valve will allow
steam to pass so as to be distributed by a nozzle or by nozzles into the room, or
steam may be used like compressed air to distribute a spray of water.
The manner of performing this we describe as follows, referring to the drawings
filed with our Provisional Specification :-
We take a valve shewn in section in Fig. 1 and in cross section in Fig. 2 which
is made of brass by preference. This is supplied with water air or steam in the
direction of the arrow. When the valve (c) is raised the water air or steam flows
through the valve seat (b) from the chamber (A) to the chamber (13) and on to
the humidifier or in the case of steam to the nozzle or nozzles. The valve (c)
Figs. 1 and 2 is attached to the spindle (d) which passes through the stuffing box (ƒ)
and the gland (e).
This spindle may be packed in several ways but we prefer to use a small piece of
vulcanized india rubber which is moulded in the fashion of the hydraulic leather
packings so much used in hydraulic pumps etc., but we may use any other form of
packing which will prevent leakage at a high pressure and which does not produce
great friction.
To the top of the spindle is attached the adjustable dead-weight (G) in one or
other of the following ways. We prefer to suspend the weight freely so that it

page_text: shall always act with a steady pull downwards upon the valve spindle. This we
accomplish by making a brass stirrup the upper part of which has attached to it a
socket which receives the upper end of the spindle. The stirrup completely
encircles the valve and for easy removal is divided into an upper and lower portion
which are held together by screws.
From the lowest point of the stirrup and exactly under the centre of the valve
spindle is a freely suspended hook which supports the necessary weight. One
end of a strip of parchment or parchment paper (Y) is fixed in the clamp (m) and
attached either to the upper part of the stirrup or to the projecting end of the
spindle which must thus pass through the weight or weights which it supports or
directly to the weight or weights in which case the bottom of the weight must be
attached to the spindle as it projects from the gland. The strip (Y) passes over a
roller fixed in the top of the case and downwards to the bottom where the end of
the strip of parchment or parchment paper is fixed in the clamp (H) Fig. 2 to
which is attached the adjusting screw (J) which is adjusted by the nut. (K) which
again is fixed by the lock nut (L) at the bottom of the perforated tube or case (N).
Or after passing the top roller the strip may pass downwards and under a second
roller arranged near the bottom of the case and up again to the top where it passes
over a third roller and afterwards down to the clamp and adjusting screws as
already described; or still more rollers may be introduced where it is found necessary
to use a greater length of parchment or parchment paper strip.
The case (N) is held firmly in position by the projecting arms or circular or
other shaped metal plate (PP) which is fixed to the body of the valve (A.B.).
This arrangement of rollers reduces the length of the case (N) but when this is not
considered of importance the adjusting screw and nuts may be fixed to a disc resting
upon the top of the case (N).
It may be necessary in some cases to fix the parchment or parchment paper strip
in a horizontal position or to use a shorter strip than usual, in either case we fix
one end of the strip to an Lleg lever (Q. Q) as shown in Fig. 3. The arrangement
of the valve and spindle remains the same as in Figs. 1 & 2 whilst the case (N)
Fig. 1 containing the strip and adjusting screws is placed in a horizontal position
and supported by the brackets (TT) on the pipe (S) conveying the water or air or
from any other support or supports.
If the strip be fixed to the vertical leg of the lever as shewn in Fig. 3 as far
from the centre (Y) as (V) is from the centre (W) on the horizontal leg, the lineal
contraction of the strip would be equal to the lift of the valve, but if the attach-
ment be placed on the vertical leg one half the distance from the centre or
fulcrum (V) that (V) is from the centre (W) then the lift of the valve would be
double the lineal contraction of the strip and by this means greater sensitiveness
would be obtained.
The apparatus shewn in Fig. 1 may also be fixed upside down and this would be of
special advantage when attached to a steam pipe as the hot air which rises would
then not affect the parchment or parchment paper strip.
If this arrangement be adopted a straight lever is attached to the spindle at the
centre (W) as shewn in Fig. 3, to the fulcrum (V) and extended beyond in a
straight line; to the free end of this lever is attached a weight sufficient to keep
the valve in its seat so that it would only be drawn out of its seat by the contraction
of the parchment or parchment paper strip which is attached directly to the spindle
in either of the methods described in Fig. 1 that is to say with or without a roller
or rollers but in either case with the weight at the end of the lever instead of being
placed as a dead weight over or under the spindle.
The working of this apparatus is obvious:-
The parchment or parchment paper strip is left slack and the valve remains
closed and the humidifier out of action until the air shows for some time a proper
degree of humidity and at which it is desired to keep the room or shed, the
adjusting nut (K) is then screwed down so as to tighten the strip almost to the
point at which the valve begins to be raised from its seat so as to produce leakage

page_text: of the water air or steam through the valve seat (b) the supply to which it is.
desired to regulate, it is obvious then that if the air becomes drier the strip will
contract and raise the valve and allow the humidifier to throw water or steam into.
the room until the strip by reason of the humidity thus produced elongates
sufficiently to allow the valve to close by the expansion of the strip to the point
at which it was adjusted when the action of the humidifier would cease.
We
We prefer to employ one of our regulators for every humidifier which we prefer
to place about 10 yards apart but the distance depends on the efficiency of the
particular form of humidifier eniployed.
Where great variations of temperature take place we employ a form of apparatus.
for compensating for the elongation of the metallic case by means similar to those
employed in the grid-iron pendulum for retaining the same distance between the-
point of oscillation and the point of suspension; this is accomplished by taking an
outer iron case (for instance) perforated with holes, lying upon or attached to the
top of which is an inner case having an outer flange at the top and an inner flange
at the bottom made of zinc or some metal having a greater coefficient of expansion
than iron on the inner or bottom flange of the second or zinc case rests or is fixed
a third case made of iron or similar metal to the outer case, or it may be of any
other metal or substance whose coefficient of expansion less than the second or
middle case.
The respective lengths of these three cases being calculated and
made according to their relative coefficients of expansion, so that the expansion of
the outermost and innermost cases upwards would be exactly counterbalanced
by the expansion of the middle case downwards, the screw (J) passing through and
the adjusting nuts (K. L.) being adjusted against the plate (p. p.) covering only
the innermost tube or case, the roller or rollers being fixed at the top of the
innermost case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The use of parchment or parchment paper strips or similar materials.
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of parchment or parchment paper strips with an apparatus
for opening and shutting a valve and controlling the supply of water, steam, or air
to humidifiers in a manner substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination of our regulating apparatus with compressed-air pipes and
a series of jets made after the manner of the well known scent spray jets the water
being supplied through a system of tubes kept filled or partially filled by the well
known ball and cistern apparatus.
Dated this 24th day of August 1896.
WILLIAM THOMSON.
HARRY SMITH.
JOSEPH MARSHALL..