An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Carburizing Air.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Carburizing Air.
I, FRANÇOIS JOSUÉ LOTHAMMER, of 23, Place de la Constitution, Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, 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:-
The method and apparatus for carburizing air, forming the subject of this
invention, relate to what is generally known as cold air-carburization, the dis-
tinguishing features of the invention consisting both in the course, or order of
operation, adopted in carrying out the improved method, and in the peculiar
arrangement of the apparatus employed in performing the successive operations.
The method adopted is characterized by the automatic nature of all the
successive carburizing operations, and also by the facts that the air at all times
enters the carburizers at a constant pressure and that the feeding of the carburizer
takes place on a level which is also at all times uniform, in proportion as the
gas or carburized air is consumed.
The several operations are best carried out by means of special apparatus, a
vertical section of which is represented, by way of example in the accompanying
drawing.
Within the air-tight holder G there are arranged the hydro-carbon receiver R
and carburizer C. Through the dome of the holder G passes the hydrocarbon
supply tube H opening into the receiver or tank R, the level of the liquid in
which is indicated by a gauge I placed outside the holder G. From the base of
the receiver R, a tube t, provided with a tap v, conducts the hydrocarbon into
the carburizer C, which, in addition to this, communicates with the top of the
receiver R through a pipe S, plunging into the carburizer and adapted to main-
tain a constant level in the same.
Within, and co-axially with, the carburizer, the air-supply pipe A extends
downwards, being fitted at its lower end with the air-distributor or feeder
proper D, immersed in the hydrocarbon in close proximity to the carburizer.
The air distributor offers certain special structural features owing to which a
very thorough carburization, and, consequently, gas of a more permanent char-
acter, are obtained.
The air supply pipe A terminates at its lower portion adjacent to the bottom
of the reservoir, in a distributor D. This distributor consists of a number of
pipes d arranged radially around the lower extremity of the supply pipe A. The
outer extremities of the pipes are made bell-shaped and flattened so as to form
a narrow slit for the discharge of the air the inside edges of which slit are
roughened or serrated so as to finely divide the air injected through the pipes d.
The apertures of these pipes d are spread as much as possible over the whole
sectional surface of the reservoir and for this purpose the said pipes are made
of varying lengths. The air bubbles issuing from the pipes d being charged
with hydrocarbon and being of very small size, will, in bursting, ensure the
formation of a rich and homogeneous mixture. Moreover the pipes & being of.
variable lengths, the air causes the hydrocarbon to rise in bubbles at a number

page_text: of different points, and becomes carburized to a degree approximating saturation
or (at any rate) to a condition of richness equal to that of the liquid.
The air supply pipe A, for a portion of its length, projects from the holder G,
so as to allow for the insertion of the damper or valve O serving to cut off the
connection when required, and above the said damper it re-enters the holder G
with its bent or knee-shaped end, in which there is located the double-acting
valve V through which air passes to the carburizer, the carburizer is, moreover,
surmounted by the discharge pipe E, whereby gas is admitted into the system of
pipes, as indicated by the arrow,
The air employed in feeding the carburizer is first delivered into the holder G
by the action of a compressor, through the tube or pipe K and the air in the
said holder is maintained at a constant pressure by a weighted valve B, the
pressure of the spring, whereby it is so weighted, being correspondingly regulated
by a milled nut M, the whole arrangement being mounted upon the dome of
the holder, which is provided with a pressure gauge N indicating the degree of
pressure at which it is desired to conduct operations.
The operation of the improved arrangement will be readily understood from:
the foregoing statement.
After having charged the tank or receiver R with hydrocarbon, some of the
hydrocarbon is admitted through the tube into the carburizer C until the desired
level is reached after which the cock (or valve) v is closed. After getting up the
required air-pressure in the holder G, the damper or valve O is opened and the
air, rushing through the valve V, and the distributor D, stirs up the liquid
hydrocarbon. As it thereupon rises above the level of such hydrocarbon in the
condition of gas, the pressure in the carburizer increases in proportion as it is
produced, and when it has become sufficient to counter-balance the column of
liquid in the receiver R, the cock may be re-opened, since a constant level
inust be maintained owing to the intervening agency of the pipe S, which enables
the entire contents of the receiver R to be discharged, so that it is unnecessary
to maintain a constant column of hydrocarbon in the receiver; for, assuming
that the level of the liquid in the carburizer descends in consequence of the
hydrocarbon being carried away by the air; then the lower end of the pipe $
will become uncovered and enable the gas from the carburizer to pass into tho
empty space in the receiver R where it will increase the pressure and bring a
fresh supply into the carburizer, until the pipe S becomes once more immersed,
and so on indefinitely.
It will be seen that the quantity of air supplied, in feeding, will in all cases
be the same, since any excess of pressure is discharged through the valve B,
while atmospheric air only can enter the holder G, to feed the carburizer, since,
even should the pressure in the holder become reduced, the hydrocarbon of the
carburizer cannot be forced back into the holder, in view of the fact that whenever
the least tendency to counter-pressure manifests itself, the valve V immediately
acts in the opposite direction so as entirely to cut off the connection.
While the apparatus is at rest, the damper or valve O and cock are closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
my said
claim is:-
1. An improved process of carburizing cold air, characterized by the auto-
matic feed or supply of both the hydrocarbon and air to the carburizer, at a
constant pressure, and the dividing or pulverizing of the air into infinitesimally
minute bubbles so as to secure a permanent, rich and homogeneous mixture.
2. In carrying out the process hereinabove specified, the combination within a
common air-holder G, fed by a compressor provided for the purpose, and sur-
mounted by a valve B, weighted with an adjustable load, for the purpose of
keeping up a given constant-pressure, of a carburizer C connected with the
said air holder through a conduit-pipe A, fitted, both, with an automatic double-

page_text: acting valve V, being the means for admitting air and at the same time preventing
any escape of gas, and with a distributor D for the distribution of the finely
divided air in the hydrocarbon; and of the liquid receiver R feeding the carburizer
through the tube t'at the base, until the contents of the said receiver are so far
reduced as to restore the constant level in the carburizer by means of the pipe S,
which serves to keep the pressures in the two chambers in a state of equilibrium,
so as to accommodate any given level in the receiver, as hereinabove described.
3. In the carburizer hereinabove referred to, the air distributor characterised
by tuyeres of variable or adjustable length terminating in bell-mouth or
trumpet-shaped flattened and bearded enlargements, for the dispersion of air in
the state of infinitesimally small bubbles, substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.