IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS CURRENT OF AIR, AND FOR IMPREGNATING SUCH AIR WITH THE VAPOUR OF WATER OR VOLATILE LIQUIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the firm of Edwards and Co.,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lanc,
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS CURRENT OF AIR, AND FOR IMPREGNATING
SUCH AIR WITH THE VAPOUR OF WATER OR VOLATILE LIQUIDS"
A communi-
cation to him from abroad by Emile Vigreux, of Bois-Guillaume, in the
Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1882.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS
CURRENT OF AIR, AND FOR IMPREGNATING SUCH AIR WITH THE VAPOUR
WATER OR VOLATILE LIQUIDS." [A communication to him from abroad by Emile
Vigreux, of Bois-Guillaume, in the Republic of France.]
OF
This invention has for its object novel methods of constructing and arranging
apparatus for producing a current of air in any desired direction, and for
impregnating such air with the vapour of water for the purpose of ventilation, or
of volatile inflammable hydro-carbons for the purpose of obtaining an inflammable
mixture to be used as a substitute for ordinary gas
The apparatus consists of a conical cylinder preferably of thin metal, supported
horizontally by pivots at its ends resting in bearings so that it can be made to
revolve at any desired speed by hand or other convenient power. Round the
surface of the cylinder are formed or wound spirally from end to end a sufficient
number of hollow passages tho ends of which at the larger diameter of the conical
cylinder open into a chamber which cominunicates with the external air by means
of a central pipe having a vertical arın within the chamber open at its upper end.
The ends of the spiral passages at the other end of the conical cylinder opens into
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page_text: a corresponding chamber by means of a central pipe also provided with a vertical
arm within the chamber, open at its upper end. The upper open ends of the
vertical pipes are provided with transverse pipes which prevent any drops of
liquid from falling into them.
The cylinder is contained in a suitable box or vessel, which is filled with water
or volatile hydrocarbon with which the air is to be impregnated, to a sufficient
height above the axis of the revolving conical cylinder, and at this level the liquid
is constantly kept.
The pitch of the spiral twist of the passages described is such that, when at rest,
each passage always has one of its open ends above and the other below the level of
the liquid, which consequently stands inside them at the same height as outside.
When the cylinder is made to revolve together with the spiral passages round it,
the orifice of each passage at its larger end above the liquid approaches and then
dips into the latter, and the outside air which, coming in through the central
admission pipe, has filled the empty part of each passage between its orifice and the
lower part which is full of the liquid becomes imprisoned.
As the revolution continues, each orifice in succession dips more deeply into the
liquid which enters the passages to a height corresponding with its level outside,
and forces before it the air which eventually is discharged through the orifice at
the other end of the apparatus into the chamber and thence down the vertical pipe
into the central discharge pipe from which it can be conducted to any desired
place. The liquid surrounding the cylinder outside forms a joint and prevents
communication between the entering and escaping air.
By the apparatus described, a considerable quantity of air is enclosed between
two volumes of liquid in the spiral passages, and whilst being expelled by the
weight of one of these volumes traverses and becomes impregnated with the
liquid, and is then discharged continuously and with regular force through the
discharge pipe.
If the liquid used be water, a current of moist air is obtained which may be
used for ventilation, or if volatile inflammable hydrocarbon oil is used, the air
becomes impregnated with its vapour, and can be conveyed to any desired distance
by pipes and burned as a substitute for ordinary gas.
By the conical shape of the apparatus as described, the ends of the passages by
which the air enters are larger than those by which it escapes, and the force of the
current thus increases. The pressure in the passages being uniform, there is no
obstacle to their free rotation, and as there is no liability to leakage a loose cover
can be used to the entire apparatus; whilst the passages being arranged cluso
together and separated only by walls of equal thickness, the several orifices as they
emerge from the liquid always present the same area and give a constantly uniform
current, and when volatile hydro-carbons are used the air traversing a large surface
becomes thoroughly carburetted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th December 1882.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of.
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS
CURRENT OF AIR AND FOR IMPREGNATING SUCH AIR WITH THE VAPOUR OF
WATER OR VOLATILE LIQUIDS." A communication to me from abroad by Emile
Vigreux, of Bois-Guillaume in the Republic of France.
This invention has for its object novel methods of constructing and arranging
apparatus for producing a current of air in any desired direction, and for impreg-
nating such air with the vapour of water for the purpose of ventilation, or of
volatile inflammable hydrocarbons for the purpose of obtaining an inflammable
mixture to be used as a substitute for ordinary gas.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention. Figure 1 is a
longitudinal section through A, B in figure 2, and figure 2 a transverse section
of the apparatus, with the cover removed, through C. D. in figure 1.
The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in both figures.
The apparatus consists of a conical cylinder G preferably of thin metal closed at
its ends, supported horizontally by pivots at its ends, resting in bearings L, L', so
that it can be made to revolve at any desired speed by hand or other convenient
power. Round the surface of the cylinder are formed or wound spirally from end
to end a sufficient number of hollow passages H, the ends of which at the larger
diameter of the conical cylinder open into a chamber J which communicates with
the external air by means of a central pipe M having a vertical arm within
with the chamber open at its upper end. The ends of the spiral passages at the
other end of the conical cylinder open into a corresponding chamber K communi-
cating with the discharge pipe by means of a central pipe N also provided with a
vertical arm within the chamber open at its upper end.
The upper open ends of the vertical pipes are provided with transverse pipes or
covers O which prevent any drops of liquid from falling into them.
The cylinder is contained in a suitable box or vessel E which is filled with
water or volatile hydrocarbon with which the air is to be impregnated, to a
sufficient height above the axis of the revolving conical cylinder, and at this level
the liquid is constantly kept. The vessel is provided with a cover F.
The pitch of the spiral twist of the passages H is such that, when at rest, each
passage always has one of its open ends above and the other below the level of
the liquid, which consequently stands inside them at the same height as outside.
When the cylinder G is made to revolve together with the spiral passages H
round it, the orifice of each passage at its larger end above the liquid approaches
and then dips into the latter, and the outside air which coming in through the
central admission pipe M has filled the empty part of each passage between its
orifice and the lower part which is full of the liquid becomes imprisoned. As the
revolution continues, each orifice in succession dips more deeply into the liquid
which enters the passages H to a height corresponding with its level outside, and
forces before it the air which eventually is discharged through the orifice at the
other end of the apparatus into the chamber K and thence down the vertical pipe
into the central discharge pipe N from which it can be conducted to any desired
place. The liquid surrounding the cylinder G outside forms a joint and prevents
communication between the entering and escaping air.

page_text: By the apparatus described, a considerable quantity of air is enclosed between
two volumes of liquid in the spiral passages H. and whilst being expelled by the
weight of one of these volumes traverses and becomes impregnated with the liquid,
and is then discharged continuously and with regular force through the discharge
pipe N.
If the liquid used be water, a current of moist air is obtained which may be used
for ventilation, or if volatile inflammable hydro-carbon oil is used, the air becomes
impregnated with its vapour, and can be conveyed to any desired distance by pipes
and burned as a substitute for ordinary gas.
By the conical shape of the apparatus G as described, the ends of the passages
by which the air enters are larger than those by which it escapes, and the force of
the current thus increases. The pressure in the passages being uniform, there is no
obstacle to their free rotation, and as there is no liability to leakage a loose cover F
can be used to the entire apparatus; whilst the passages H being arranged close
together and separated only by walls of equal thickness, the several orifices as they
emerge from the liquid always present the same area and give a constantly uniform
current, and when volatile hydrocarbons are used the air traversing a large surface
becomes thoroughly carburetted, and fit to be burned for lighting or heating
purposes.
By the improved apparatus great evenness and regularity of the current is
obtained, and the preliminary mixture of the air and liquid is complete.
Having now described the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim :-The combination of the revolving conical cylinder, helical
passages, inlet and outlet passages, and case with moveable cover, substantially as
and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
In witness whereof, I the said Edmund Edwards have hereunto set my hand
and seal this nineteenth day of December in the year of our Lord 1882.
EDMUND EDWARDS (L.S.)