Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
We, THE SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME DU GAZ AÉRO-PÉTROLIQUE, of Brussels in the
Kingdom of Belgium, 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 air compressor which forms the object of the present application is composed
of a balance beam from which are suspended upon one side a hydraulic bell, and
upon the other side, a counterweight travelling along a curved surface. When the
bell is empty, the counterweight will overbalance the same and incline the beam
which by means of a rod opens a watercock under pressure; on the other hand when
the bell is full, it will overbalance the counterweight and incline the beam at the
other side whereby the watercock will be closed and a discharge cock opened in order
to allow the exit of the water contained in the bell.
During the emptying of the bell, air will be drawn in through a valve which
closes as soon as the bell is filled again. The air is thereby compressed and forced'
into a service pipe in order to be used for the purpose to which it is destined, as
for instance, for the oxydation of the wort in the brewer's copper, for replacing the
beer pumps, or the carbonic acid column in public houses, for blowing cattle (in
slaughter houses), for operating the blow pipe in laboratories and in general
wherever a selfacting supply of air is desired.
Fig. 1, of the annexed drawing represents the apparatus in elevation,
Fig. 2 shows the water distribution,
Fig. 3 is a section through the valve box on an enlarged scale and
Fig. 4 is a modification of the apparatus.
a is the balance beam, 6 the counterweight and c is the hydraulic bell. The latter
is suspended in a fork of the beam and communicates at its lower part with the
water distribution by means of a flexible tube and at its upper part with the valve
box by means of a flexible tube e. f is the rod controlling the water distribution.
The counterweight is movable and to, this end rests upon a curved surface 9 of the
balance beam by means of a pulley . Consequently when the counterweight
descends, it will at the same time recede from the centre of oscillation by rolling
along the curved surface g in such a manner that the bell cannot descend before it is
completely filled with water. On the contrary, when the counterweight is lifted
by the bell, it approaches at the same time the centre of oscillation in such a manner
that it cannot lift the bell before the same is completely empty.
The water distribution consists of two watercocks i k, Fig. 2, of any system, for
instance having a rapid screw pitch and a common axis upon which is mounted the
lever connected with the rod f.

page_text: The cock i communicates with a water distribution under pressure whereas the
cock is connected with a discharge pipe. When the lever is pressed down,
the discharge cock closes and the admission cock opens, consequently the water will
pass through the barrel or pipe connection m n and the flexible tube d into the bell.
As soon as the bell is filled again, the counterweight is raised and the rod lifts
the lever whereby the admission cock is closed and the discharge cock opened.
The water contained in the bell now flows off through the flexible tube d the
barrel n 1 m 1 and through the discharge cock..
The air valves o and p are contained in a box 9 Fig. 3. Each of these valves is
composed of a guider Fig. 4 having a tail provided with a screw threads upon
which is mounted a collar of india rubber or leather t retained by a nut t'. The
collar reposes on a circular seat having a cutting edge w and thus forms a perfect
obturator.
When the bell is getting empty, the air enters at », lifts the valve o and passes
through the pipe connection w into the bell; when water enters the bell, the air is
compressed by the same and closes the valve o whereas the valve p opens and
establishes communication with the service pipe a.
It is evident that the bell may be arranged or suspended on the balance beam in
the same manner as the counterweight, that is to say, movable upon a curved surface
so that when the bell ascends, it will at the same time approach the centre of
oscillation, whereas on descending, it will recede from the said centre.
Also the water distribution as well as the controlling rod / may be arranged on
the side of the bell. The discharge cock will then serve as an admission cock' and
vice versa, as will be easily understood.
Finally, the counterweight itself may be replaced by a second bell, in order to
render the air compressor double acting. In this case it suffices to double likewise
- the mechanism of the water distribution and the air sucking and retaining valves.
Further, nothing prevents the arrangement of the balance beam itself in such a
manner as to change place or move on its fulcrum for the purpose indicated.
In order to increase the quantity of air to be furnished without using a more
heavy apparatus, it suffices to place near the hydraulic motor, a fixed reservoir C 1,
Fig. 5, which is connected at its lower part, with the barrel m by means of a tube di
and at its upper end with the valve g by means of a tube el. According to the
principle of communicating vessels, the water cannot rise in the belle without
attaining the same level in the reservoir e 1, and vice versa, the hell cannot get empty
without emptying at the same time the reservoir.
The employment of the fixed reservoir communicating with the bell has therefore
the effect of increasing the capacity of the latter without requiring the use of a
larger apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An air compressor comprising a balance beam on which is suspended a
hydraulic bell counterbalanced by a weight running on a curved surface and
receding from and approaching towards the centre of oscillation according as the
beam inclines upon the side of the counterweight or upon the side of the bell in
such a manner that the latter cannot overbalance the counterweight before being
filled, and that the weight cannot overbalance the bell before the same is empty,
substantially as specified."
2. An air compressor comprising a cock for admitting water under pressure into
the bell and a discharge cock having a common axis upon which is keyed a lever
controlled by a rod connected with the balance beam in such a manner that when
the bell rises, the rod will open the admission and close the discharge, whereas the
contrary will take place, when it is descending, substantially as specified.
3. An air compressor comprising an air suction valve which opens when the bell
gets empty and thus permits the entrance of the air in said bell and which closes.

page_text: when the water enters the bell and compresses the air, in combination with a second
valve allowing passage of the compressed air into the service pipe substantially as
specified.
4. The general combination and arrangement of the air compressor and the
modifications herein before described and represented in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 21st May 1896.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Filing Agents.