Improvements in Apparatus for Directing the Passage and Con- trolling the Speed of Gases, Air, or Fluids Ascending or Passing through Fluids or Liquids, for the Purpose of Causing Absorption of or otherwise Treating said Gases, or for Sterilizing or otherwise Treating the Liquids or Fluids through which said Gases or Fluids pass.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1393
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Directing the Passage and Con-
trolling the Speed of Gases, Air, or Fluids Ascending or Passing
through Fluids or Liquids, for the Purpose of Causing Absorption
of or otherwise Treating said Gases, or for Sterilizing or
otherwise Treating the Liquids or Fluids through which said
Gases or Fluids pass.
We, RICHARD GREENSHIELDS Ross, Engineer, of Ravensleigh, Dowanhill
Gardens, JOSEPH BANKS HILLIARD, Surgical Instrument Maker, of 65 Renfield
Street, and WILLIAM PATERSON, Manufacturing Chemist, of Phoenix Works,
Maryhill, all of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for directing the passage of,
and controlling the speed of gases, air or fluids ascending or passing through fluids
or liquids for the purpose of causing absorption of, or otherwise treating said gases,
or for sterilizing or otherwise treating the liquids or fluids through which said
gases or fluids pass, and forms additions to, as well as, modifications of the
apparatus described in the Complete Specification of our prior application for
Patent No. 10,836 dated 8th June 1892.
The present invention is applicable for treating water for brewing purposes, as
described in the Specification of our former application No. 9165 of 14th May
1892, or for aerating malt worts, or for use in the manufacture of solutions of
sulphurous acid, or bi-sulphites of any of the alkalies.
For the carbonizing (or cauterizing or sterilizing) of any liquid or solution of
any caustic body or any suitable salt by carbonic acid gas. For the manufacture
of solutions of chlorine or chlorates from chlorine gas. For the manufacture of oil
gas by passing the air or gas through the oil, such as passing air through petroleum
oil so as to produce petroleum gas. For the absorption and cleansing of smoke.
For the heating or boiling of fluids by hot air. For the cooling freezing aerating
or crystallising of fluids by cold air. For treating molten iron steel or other
molten metal, or mercury or any material in a fluid state. For absorbing ammonia
or other substances from liquids gases, or molten metal, or other fluid material.
For condensing, deodorising or otherwise treating sewage, mud, or other thick
fluid material. For use in the making of white lead. For the manufacture and
treatment of any other material which requires a gas or mixed gases to be blown or
drawn or forced or guided through other liquid or fluid. Or for passing a fluid of
a light specific gravity through a fluid of heavier gravity, such as oil through
water. Hitherto it has been the practice to force the air or gas into a tank or
other vessel by a blowing engine very often under high pressure, and when
the gases escape from the pipe which is at the bottom of the tank, they at
once ascend to the surface of the liquid contained in the tank, after having
been in contact with the liquid but a short time. This results in almost total
loss of the gases used unless the process is indefinitely repeated. For the
purpose of obtaining the greatest possible benefit from the gases and fluids used,
and to obviate the need for expensive blowing machinery, we substitute for the
ordinary apparatus generally used, the following arrangement which we prefer to
call an absorber.
The absorber or apparatus may consist of any suitable vessel, which may be of
any suitable size or shape; the said vessel being fitted or provided with one or

page_text: more inclined frames or planes, preferably having guiding channels on their under
surfaces which are immersed in the liquid. Or if desired the channels may form
the planes themselves. In any case the gas would be liberated in or under the
lower ends of the lowest channel or set of channels and in its passage to the surface
it would follow the course of the channels. When the gas leaves one set of
channels it may be caused to enter into another set of channels, and so on, until its
virtue is exhausted, and it is allowed to escape at or be drawn off from the surface.
The desirable qualities of the gas being thus absorbed by the fluid or liquid
through which it passes, or vice versa, as may be necessary in any given process.
The planes, frames or channels, may be of any desired shape, size or material,
and they may be placed in any desired vessel, vat or receiver of any size, shape or
material. The planes with the channels or sets of channels, or it may be the
channels themselves, may be made hinged or otherwise movable, so that the
angles may be adjusted to hasten or retard the passage of the moving gas, or to suit
the consistency of the gas or of the fluid material through which it passes. Or
the planes and channels or channels may be mounted horizontally, or the channels
may be formed on or attached to the inside top of the vessel or vat. The planes
may be made flat or corrugated or fitted with channels or perforated so as to suit
the specific purpose they are to be used for aud so allow the gas to escape at any
desired point. Or the channels may be attached apart to skeleton frames, thus
allowing the sediment to fall easily between the chaunels to the bottom of the
vessel. The channels may be of any suitable shape, size, angle, direction or
material. They may be used without straight surfaces or planes in spirals, circles
or curves, and they may be made single, double or multiple. The skeleton frames
may be so constructed and arranged that the channels will cross or pass each other,
so as to allow for increased inlet of gas and the treatment of more material in the
same space and time. To obviate the necessity for a vat or vessel, the guiding
channels may consist of tubes of any suitable size, shape or material, and set at any
desired angle, in which the fluid is placed, and the moving gas will then pass
through the fluid contained in the tubes in the same way as described with
reference to the immersed channels, thus combining the vessel, vat or receiver with
the guiding channels in one apparatus, and so economize space as well as the
quantity of liquid material through which the gas passes.
The gas or Huid may be caused to enter and pass through the liquid in the tank,
vessel, vat or receiver either by suction at the top of the apparatus, or by pressure
from below, or by a combination of both, or by a
"head or gravitation force of
the moving gas or fluid sufficient to overcome the pressure of the liquid material in
the vessel, vat or receiver. Also in order to agitate the liquid being treated we
prefer to employ one or more revolving agitators shaped somewhat after the manner
of an ordinary propeller; the said agitators being driven by belt or otherwise as
desired.
When the liquid, fluid or gas being treated is required to be cooled we preferably
provide a pipe or conduit, which passes through the vessel, vat or receiver, and
through which a continuous stream of cold water is caused to pass. Or if desired
we provide the vessel, vat or receiver with a cold water jacket or casing.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe a few methods of carrying the same
into effect with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively part cross section and part longitudinal section
of an apparatus having adjustable inclined planes or channels.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively part sectional elevation and part plan of a
circular receiver or vessel, having the planes and channels arranged spirally.
Figures 5 or 6 are respectively part cross section and part longitudinal section
of another arrangement.
And Figures 7 and 8, are similar views of a modification of same.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 we construct of wood, iron or other material a
rectangular vessel or receiver A, which may be of any convenient size, within the

page_text: said vessel A we hinge or otherwise mount a number of adjustable inclined planes
or channels B preferably of a semicircular shape in section, as shown in Figure 1 ;
each of the said planes or channels B are provided with suitable means C for
adjusting their angles so as to retard or increase the speed of the gas while it is
passing up the channels B. which are immersed in the liquid contained in the
vessel; the said liquid being preferably kept about the level of the line D. The
gas to be treated is fed or liberated in or under the lower ends of the channels B,.
by means of the supply pipe E and branch pipes F, there being preferably one of
said branch pipes F for each channel B; the said branch pipes F and adjusting
rods C are each provided with a stuffing box arrangement G where they pass
through the vessel or receiver A. The gases after being treated escape at the
surface of the liquid and thence out through the outlet pipe or pipes H to any
desired place. In order to keep the liquid in a state of agitation we preferably
provide one, two or more revolving agitators J which may revolve as shown in
Figure 2, that is to say they may be mounted on a small horizontal shaft j which
works in a stuffing box arrangement and is provided with a driving pulley j² at
its outer end so as to enable it to be driven by a band or belt. In lieu of providing
each of the channels B with adjusting rods C and stuffing box G we may connect
each series of channels B together and only provide one adjusting rod and stuffing
box arrangement.
The arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4, consists in constructing the receiver
as a circular vessel A¹ having a number of, or one inclined plane B₁ arranged in an
upward spirally direction around its central support A' as shown; the said plane B¹
has a number of channels B formed on or attached to its under surface so as to
guide the gases upwards through the liquid; the said gases being supplied to the
lower ends of the channels B, by means of the supply pipe E and branch nozzles F,
shown in Figure 4. The said arrangement may also be provided with one or more
agitators J as already described.
The arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6, consists in forming the receiver as
one or more semi-circular tubes or vessels A³ which are mounted at an angle, as
shown, and provided with a partition or plane B2 the lower surface of which forms
the guiding channel B, into the lower end of which the gases are fed as already
described, though in this instance we may dispense with the stuffing boxes for
branch pipes. Each of said vessels A³ are preferably provided with an agitator J
and outlet pipe H. Or as a modification of the foregoing we may form the receiver
as a number of circular tubes A* and provide them with inclined planes B³ having
two, three or more channels B as shown, and provided with supply pipe E, branch
pipes F, agitators J, and outlet pipes H as already described.
In cases where it is desired to cool the materials being treated we may provide a
cooling pipe or pipes K (as shown in Figures 5 and 6) which extend from end to
end of the receiver or vessel and through which a continuous stream of water or
other liquid would be passed. Or we may provide or enclose the vessel or
receiver A within a water or other liquid casing L as shown in section Figure 5.
In order to dispense with a number of stuffing boxes we may mount the supply
pipe and its branches within the vessel or receiver and provide a stuffing box for
same where it passes through the wall of the receiver or vessel; or we may
dispense with the branch pipes and provide the supply pipe with an opening or
hole for each channel. Also if desired we may connect all the frames or channels
together and cause them to be adjustable jointly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
claim is :-
1st. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts constituting
our improved apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts constituting

page_text: the apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts constituting
the apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts constituting
the apparatus substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
5th. In apparatus as hereinbefore described, the water pipe K or jacket L,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in
Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of April 1893.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.