Improved Means applicable for Use in the Separation and Collection of Solid Matters Held in Suspension in Aëriform Fluids.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug.. 1896
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
Improved Means applicable for Use in the Separation and Collection
of Solid Matters Held in Suspension in Aëriform Fluids.
I, FRANKLIN DAVID CUMMER, of 1051, East Madison Avenue, in the City of
Cleveland and County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, one of the United States of
America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for separating
solid matters from air or other gas or vapors containing the same so that the air or
other gas may be discharged in a purified state whilst the solid matters, which in some
instances are of value, and in other instances would constitute a nuisance are
retained.
In the drying of lignite and many other substances large quantities of material in
a state of very fine subdivision are carried away with the escaping vapor or gases;
the present invention being designed to effect the separation and collection of such
solid matters. In drying certain kinds of ores and other finely-ground substances it
is desirable to treat the escaping gases or air in a similar manner.
Apparatus constructed and arranged for working according to my improved method
and applied by way of example in connection with drying lignite, comprises a lower
and an upper chamber which may be of brick work. The air or other gas or vapour
charged with dust is delivered to the lower chamber through a spout which may be
furnished with an extension formed with a longitudinal opening at the bottom whereby .
the incoming stream is diffused. The extremity of the inlet flue is, moreover,
preferably provided with a damper whereby the area of the inlet may be varied. The
longitudinal opening serves to prevent the accumulation in the spout of the solid
particles. The ceiling of this chamber, which also forms the floor of the upper
chamber, is preferably made of some material that is a bad conductor of heat, and is.
provided with holes of suitable size for permitting the passage of the air or other
gas or vapour, which still holds in suspension such portion of the dust as has not become
deposited in the lower chamber; the said openings being hooded or otherwise
protected to prevent the passage of moisture from the upper to the lower chamber.
Water or like cooling agent is sprayed or distributed in a diffused condition in the
upper chamber and in subsiding in the form of dew carries down with it the solid
matters held in suspension. These are or may be drained from the floor of the upper
chamber and if valuable matter be contained therein are led to a settling tank whence
they may from time to time be removed and returned to the drying furnace. The
roof of the upper chamber may be provided with outlets for the escape to the
atmosphere of the washed air or gas." Instead of employing a spray in the upper
chamber, vapour may be admitted thereto, similar results ensuing on the condensation
thereof. The upper chamber may also be provided near the roof with a coil or
similar cooling appliance through which cold water or other cooling medium may be
passed with a view to expediting the condensation of the vapour and gases.
The above described apparatus is specially adapted for use when the suspended
matter to be collected is of value or when it is of such a character that if allowed to
escape into the atmosphere it would create a nuisance.
The collecting chambers may under certain conditions of working be differently

page_text: arranged. For instance, when the waste matter is not of an obnoxious character or
when the said matter is not of sufficient value to be further treated, the second chamber
may be dispensed with. Circumstances may, moreover, arise which will not permit of
arranging the second chamber above the lower or first chamber. This second chamber
may then be placed at a distance remote from the first, and the air or gases from the
latter chamber be conveyed thereto by suitable means such as a flue provided or not
with a fan. Again, the chambers may, if required, be arranged alongside each other;
the openings in the floor of the second chamber being unnecessary in this last
arrangement.
Improved Means applicable for Use in the Separation and Collection
of Solid Matters Held in Suspension in Aëriform Fluids.
I, FRANKLIN DAVID CUMMER, of 1051, East Madison Avenue, in the City of
Cleveland and County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, one of the United States of
America, Manufacturer, 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 an improved method of and apparatus for separating
solid matters from air or other gas or vapors containing the same so that the air or
other gas may be discharged in a purified state whilst the solid matters, which, in
some instances, are of value, and, in other instances, would constitute a nuisance, are
retained.
In the drying of lignite and many other substances large quantities of material in
a state of fine subdivision are carried away with the escaping vapor or gases; the
présent invention being designed to effect the separation and collection of such solid
matters. In drying certain kinds of ores and other finely ground substances, it is
desirable to treat the escaping gases or air in a similar manner.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a form of
apparatus adapted for carrying my invention into effect. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are
respectively a corresponding transverse section and a plan.
Apparatus constructed and arranged for working according. to my improved method
and applied by way of example in connection with drying lignite, comprises a lower
chamber A and an upper chamber B which may be built of brickwork. The air or
other gas or vapour charged with dust enters the fan in a heated condition and is
delivered to the lower chamber A through a spout a which may be furnished with an
extension a formed with a longitudinal opening a2 at the bottom through which the
incoming stream of dust-laden gas or vapour is diffused. The extremity of the inlet
flue or spout a is preferably provided with a deflector as which also serves as a damper
and enables the area of the inlet to be varied. If the extension a' be not used the
deflector or damper may be applied to the portion a of the spout as shown in dotted
lines. The longitudinal opening when used serves to prevent the accumulation in the
spout of the solid particles, which might congregate therein owing to the peculiar
motion of the air; the said opening a ensuring their egress from the spout and their
diffusion through the chamber A. Owing to radiation and expansion, a certain
amount of condensation, attended by deposit of the solid matters held in suspension,
takes place in the chamber A. The ceiling of this chamber, which, in the present

page_text: illustration, also forms the floor of the upper chamber B, is preferably made of some
material that is a bad conductor of heat, and is provided with holes a of suitable size
for permitting the passage into the chamber B of the air or other gas or vapour,
which still holds in suspension such portion of the dust as has not become deposited in
the lower chamber A; the said openings being provided with hoods a or otherwise
protected in order to prevent the passage of moisture from the upper to the lower
chamber. Water or like cooling agent is sprayed or distributed in a diffused condition
by means of nozzles in the upper chamber, and, in subsiding in the form of mist or
fine rain, carries down with it the solid matters held in suspension. These are or may
be drained from the floor of the upper chamber and, if valuable matter be contained
therein, are led to a settling tank whence they may from time to time be removed and.
returned to the drying furnace. is the draining aperture and 62 the gutter or
trough for conveying the drainings to a tank or otherwise. The roof of the upper
chamber may be provided with hooded outlets C for the escape to the atmosphere of
the washed air or gas; but where the gaseous effluent is of a noxious character, I
prefer to pass it through a furnace, with a view to rendering it inoffensive.
Instead of employing a water or like cooling spray in the upper chamber, vapour
may be admitted thereto, similar results ensuing on the condensation of the moisture
therein contained. The upper chamber B may also be provided, preferably near the
roof, with a coil 63 or similar cooling appliance through which cold water or other
cooling medium may be passed, with a view to expediting the condensation of the
vapour and gases.
The above described apparatus is specially adapted for use when the suspended
matter to be collected is of value, or when it is of such a character that if allowed to
escape into the atmosphere it would create a nuisance.
In treating bodies of air or other gas charged with particles of solid matter of low
specific gravity or in a state of minute sub-division, it is of essential importance that
the air be permeated with moisture. This may in some instances be derived from the
materials in course of being dried, whilst in other cases it may be added. On the
dust-charged and moistened air being subjected to the influence of cooling appliances,
the vapour becomes condensed and the solid particles, which under other circumstances
would be carried away, become laden with moisture and are thrown down.
The collecting chambers A and B may, under certain conditions of working, be
differently arranged. For instance, when the waste matter is not of an obnoxious
character or when the said matter is not of sufficient value to be further treated, the
second chamber B may be dispensed with. Circumstances may, moreover, arise
which will not permit of arranging the chamber B above the chamber A. The second
chamber may then be placed at a distance remote from the first, and the air or gases
from the latter chamber be conveyed thereto by suitable means such as a flue provided
or not with a fan. Again, the chambers may, if required, be arranged alongside each
other; the hooded openings a' in the floor of the chamber B being unnecessary in this
last arrangement.
As will be seen, the dust-collecting apparatus is shewn (Fig. 1) combined with a
drying furnace D; the fan for exhausting the heating gases from the drying cylinder
(shown in dotted lines) and for. forcing them into the collecting chamber A being
contained in the casing E above the feed-hopper F for supplying the cylinder with the
material to be treated.
The fan is preferably run at a speed beyond that necessary to exhaust the mingled
air and gases from the furnace and vapour from the drying cylinder. If now the
damper be partially closed, the gases and vapours delivered to the chamber A are
more nearly restricted to those which arise from the furnace and drying cylinder, the
temperature is diminished by reason of greater freedom for expansion, and con-
densation ensues, thus promoting deposition of the solid matters; the velocity of. the
current passing away to the channel B being at the same time reduced.
The present invention is applicable for use in connection with the drying of a great
variety of substances, such as garbage, noisome animal matter, night-soil, sevage and
other refuse. In such operations, it is desirable to effect the separation of the dust, to

page_text: -condense the vapours and to destroy all noxious odours present in the air or gases or
other drying agent, so that no nuisance may arise from the escape of the effluent.
treating these substances, in apparatus such as herein referred to, the dust and foul
smelling matter are carried away with the condensed moisture whilst the insufficiently
purified gases are conducted from the outlets to a furnace maintained at a high
temperature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In the separation and collection of solid matters held in suspension in aëriform
fluids, the employment of apparatus operating substantially as herein described and
comprising two chambers A and B, the air or other aëriform fluid to be screened
being admitted to the chamber A, and, after depositing the greater portion of the
suspended solid matters, passing to the chamber B, the latter chamber being furnished
with spraying or other devices for creating a vaporous condition or with means for
promoting condensation.
2. In the separation and collection of solid matters held in suspension in aëriform
fluids, permeating the dust-charged gas with moisture and subjecting the moistened
air to cooling influences so as to condense the vapour and at the same time to throw
down the solid matters, substantially as herein described.
3. In apparatus of the character herein referred to, providing the delivery spout
with a deflector which is also capable of being operated as a damper, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described.
Dated this 30th day of April 1897.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.