Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 6th July, 1888
I, EDWARD J. FROST, Mechanical Engineer, of Philadelphia in the State of Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, 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 object of my invention is to overcome the well known difficulty which attends
the use of carbureters, for making illuminating vapor, and which is due to the fact
that the saturation of the air current varies greatly, so that the flame thereof is at
times smoky from excess of hydro-carbon.
I have found that a very sensible increase of weight attends such over saturation of
the current, and hence have utilized this feature for automatically controlling a dilution
of the main current by a secondary air blast, admitted thereto after the current has
been charged with hydro-carbon vapor.
In the accompanying drawing A and B, represent two cylindrical closed vessels,
mounted upon a suitable base, and communicating with each other at top by a
horizontal passage R.
An annular perforated pipe c, extends around the lower portion of the vessel A, and
is provided with an external coupling C, to which the exit pipe of the carbureter (not
shown) is to be attached.
The carbureter may be of any of the well known types, in which an air current is
caused to pass over extended surfaces saturated with a volatile hydro-carbon.
Within the annular pipe c, is a smaller perforated pipe d, communicating with an
exterior air-blast pipe D. This pipe D, is in communication with the main air-blast
supply of the carbureter and is provided with a normally closed puppet valve O, whose
stem N, rests upon the surface of a flexible diaphragm or aneroid M, mounted upon
the top of the passage R, but isolated from the interior thereof.
A pipe L, leads from the pipe D, (at a point not under the control of valve O),
to a valve chamber T, mounted upon the top of the vessel B.
From this valve chamber T, (whose valves will presently be described) a pipe P leads
to the interior of the space beneath the diaphragm M.
Upon suitable supports G, within the space R, I mount a balance beam F, F¹,
FD

page_text: carrying upon the arm F, which is within the vessel A, a float E, preferably an air
tight globe of thin copper or other metal, and upon the other arm F¹, a counter-
weight H, and a vertical valve stem I, which extends through the top of the vessel B,
and into the chamber T. This stem I, is provided with two puppet valves, a and b,
facing in opposite directions within said chamber, and so arranged that when one is
upon its seat the other is open. When the valve a, is open, communication is
established between the pipes L, and P, and consequently the full pressure of the air-
blast in the pipe D, is transmitted to the underside of the diaphragm M. When,
however, the valve a, is closed, the valve b, is open, and the pipo p, then communicates
with the enlarged upper portion K, of the chamber T, which is open to the outside air.
The stem I, terminates in a cup J, in which shot, &c., may be placed to obtain a
counter-balance of the utmost nicety.
At the bottom of the vessel B, is a coupling pipe S, which leads to the
burners.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
The normal quality of vapor having been determined, the counter weight upon the
arm F is so adjusted that when the vapor is passing through the vessels A and B, on
its way
to the burners, the weight of the globe E, shall just suffice to hold the valve a,
up against its seat. If, however, the vapor current becomes too highly saturated the
increase of density floats the globe E, upwards, and by depressing the arm F¹, opens
the valve a. This admits the air current from the pipe D, beneath the diaphragm M,
and distends it, raising the stem N, and opening the valve O. The air current then
passes down through the continuation of the pipe D, and enters the annular pipe d,
issuing through the perforations thereof and mingling with the arriving vapor current
in the annular pipe c, so as to dilute it. The consequent reduction of density causes
the globe E, to sink, and when the normal point has been reached, its descent closes
the valve a, opening at the same time, the valve b, which permits the escape of the air
under pressure, from beneath the diaphragm M. This diaphragm then falls and
permits the valve O, to close, cutting off the diluting air current.
As these movements are gradual, and the balance of great delicacy, the automatic
regulation of quality is very minute and effectual.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim, in a regulating device for carbureters having the usual air supply, the
following combinations of parts interposed between the carbureters and the
burners; is:
--
1. The combination of an enclosing receptacle into which both the vapor pipe and
air blast pipe lead, a balance beam, a float mounted upon one arm thereof, a valve
operating device actuated by the other arm thereof, and a valve operated by said device
and controlling the said air-blast pipe, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the vessels A and B, communicating as described, the balance
beam and float arranged therein, the perforated pipes e and d, the former communi-
cating with the vapor pipe, the lattor communicating with the air blast pipe, the double
valve a, b, actuated by the balance beam, the aneroid whose inlet and outlet aro
controlled by said double valve as described, and the valve O, actuated by said aneroid
and controlling the air inlet of the pipe d, substantially as set forth.
Dated
this
day of
1888.
EDWARD J. FROST.
Witnesses,
Jos. C. TRACEY.
E. P. BURKET.