Improvements in Apparatus for Carburetting Gas or Air.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Carburetting Gas or Air.
I, JAMES LOVE of 1 Millias Terrace, Leyton Road, Stratford, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for carburetting gas or air, and is designed to
improve the construction of the same.
My said invention relates more especially to apparatus of that kind or class described
in the Specification accompanying former Letters Patent granted to George Seagrave
dated 2nd November 1886 No. 14,111 that is to say: To apparatus for car-
buretting or enriching gas, or air, wherein a tank or reservoir, and carburetting
chambers are employed.
In apparatus of this kind or class as hitherto usually constructed it has been
necessary for an attendant to regulate the proportion between the supply of gas or
air and the demand for, or consumption of the carburetted product, by means of a
main valve or a number of subsidiary valves one to each carburetting chamber. By
this means however, neither accuracy or uniformity of adjustment could be
obtained.
By my said invention I obviate this defect and provide means for automatically
controlling the supply of gas or air, to the carburetting chambers of the apparatus, in
proportion to the number of lights to which gas has to be supplied or when the
said carburetted gas or air is used for heating purposes for varying the supply in
proportion to the heat required.
Another important feature in my invention is the provision of means for more
efficiently controlling the supply of liquid hydro-carbon to the tank and carburetting
chambers, and for indicating the quantities of the said liquid contained therein.
My said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter
set forth.
The
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide an oblong rectangular or
other suitably shaped box or case preferably formed of cast iron or other suitable
metal and consisting of two or more parts bolted or otherwise secured together
according to the depth required. At each extremity of this box or case I provide
vertical partitions which divide it into three or more separate, and water-tight chambers
or compartments, the whole being provided with an air-tight lid, or cover.
central chamber or compartment is formed of greater capacity than the others and is
divided by a horizontal partition into two equal or approximately equal air-tight.
chambers or compartments, the upper one forming the tank or reservoir for the
carburetting liquid, while the lower one is again sub-divided into three or more
compartments forming, when provided with capillary cottons or wicks the carburetting
chambers.
Each of these carburetting chambers opens freely at one extremity into one of the
end chambers or compartments, which serves as an accumulation or condensing
chamber while at their other extremities they communicate through suitable valves,
arranged to open downwards, into the remaining end or valve chamber or
compartment.
At a
This valve chamber is divided half way down or thereabouts by an horizontal air-
tight partition, in which are provided the seats of the above mentioned valves,
suitable distance above this partition is provided a trame fitted with flexible diaphragms,
nade of India-rubber or other suitable material, the number of the said diaphragms
being equal to that of the said valves.
These diaphragms are so secured in the said frame as to make the space between it
and the horizontal partition, carrying the valve seats, air-tight, and it is into this

page_text: 23
space that the main supply of gas or air to be carburetted is admitted, by a suitable
supply pipe controlled by two three-way cocks or valves forming a by pass through
which more or less of the air or gas may be delivered, if required, without being
carburetted. Suitable indexes and pointers are provided for indicating whether
common or carburetted gas is being supplied. The valves are secured to these flexible
diaphragms by means of suitable spindles and have such an area in proportion to the
flexible diaphragms as will ensure their admitting the proper supply of air or gas to
the carburetting chambers, in accordance with the quantity of gas being drawn from
the said "accumulation or condensing chamber. The said valves are moreover
provided with weights so adjusted that they will close one after the other as the
quantity of gas drawn from the apparatus is reduced, and the pressure of the gas or
air delivered into the above mentioned space increases, and acts upon the said
diaphragms so as to raise thein and consequently also raise or close the said valves.
The carburetting chambers are thus shut off automatically one after the other and the
gas or air is prevented from being over-carburetted when the consumption is small.
The weight upon the last of the said carburetting chambers is so arranged that it will
not be entirely closed by the said pressure so long as there is any gas being withdrawn
from the said "accumulation or condensing chamber. In order to permit the
escape of the air contained in the space above the said diaphragms I provide in the
cover or lid a vent which is preferably formed in the shape of a mushroom, the air
holes being situated upon the underside of the head thus obviating the chance of their
becoming choked by dust dirt or the like.
"
In order to prevent any noxious smells that may perculate through the said
diaphragms from passing out through the said vent holes i provide a second diaphragm,
which may be inserted between the cover or lid and the box or case, and arranged to
belly or bag downwards into the space above the first or lower diaphragm.
- provide moreover improved means for securing the cottons or wicks in the
carburetting chambers and supplying liquid hydrocarbon thereto, consisting of H or
other suitable shaped metal or other trays formed of half round, channel or other
suitable form in transverse section, and having dependent vertically from the centres
or cross-bars thereof suitable tubes or wells. The cottons or wicks are secured in
these trays by means of brass or other rods under which they pass and the extremities
are passed or threaded through suitable holes provided in perforated plates secured to
the baskets or frames supporting the said trays. For supplying liquid hydrocarbon
to the said trays I provide in the above mentioned tubes or wells dip pipes exten ling
nearly to the bottom thereof these dip pipes communicate through suitable stop cocks
or valves with the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir situated above. The valve
stems or rods of these stop cocks or valves extend up through suitable stuffing boxes
and glands provided in the lid or cover, and have square or other suitably shaped
portions so that the said stop cocks or valves can be opened or closed by means of a
suitable key. Caps or guards arranged to screw upon suitable bosses upon the lid or
cover, are provided for covering the said projecting extremities and preventing the
said stop cocks or valves from being tampered with accidentally or otherwise. I
sometimes provide other dip pipes extending to near the bottom of the carburetting
chambers and communicating with the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir, by
means of stop cocks or valves having rods or stems stuffing boxes and glands and caps
or guards similar to those above described. For supplying liquid hydrocarbon
automatically to the above described trays, I provide vent pipes extending from a
little below the ordinary level of the said liquid in the bottom of the carburetting
ebambers, to a suitable distance above the ordinary level of the liquid in the liquid
hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir. When the level of the liquid in the bottom of any
one the said carburetting chambers passes below a notch provided in the lower
extremity of the said vent pipe the gas will pass up the latter and by increasing the
pressure upon the surface of the liquid in the hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir, cause
a flow of the said liquid through the valve or stop cock and dip pipe and up the vertical
tube or well into the tray. When the level of the liquid in the carburetting chamber
again rises and the extremity of the said dip pipe becomes submerged the pressure

page_text: upon the surface of the liquid is stopped. The said dip pipes are advantageously
sealed by the liquid which always remains in the vertical tubes or wells.
I provide moreover improved means for easily ascertaining at any time the exact
heights or levels of the liquid hydrocarbon in the carburetting chambers, and in the
liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir. For this purpose I arrange therein suitable
vertical tubes open at their lower extremities. In these tubes are provided floats
formed of glass or other suitable material the stems of which pass up through holes
provided in the lid or cover and into glass tubes of larger diameter, the upper
extremities whereof are closed or sealed and the lower extremities whereof are open.
These outer tubes are secured to the said lid or cover and provided with stuffing boxes
and glands, or other suitable means for forming tight joints round the same. Cut
away tubes or shields having suitably graduated scales attached thereto, are moreover
provided round the said outer glass tubes. To prevent accidental breakage or damage
to these gauges I provide caps or guards adapted to fit over them. The said caps or
guards are secured to the lid or cover by screwing them upon screw threaded bosses
provided for that purpose, or in any other suitable manner.
Suitable holes or apertures are provided in the upper parts of the said vertical tubes
containing the said glass or other floats, in order to permit the escape of any gas or air
that they may contain, when the latter are rising therein, and its admission thereto
when they are falling.
the
For charging or filling the apparatus with liquid hydrocarbon I provide upon the
cover or lid a suitable stop cock or valve having upon its upper extremity a cup in
which is provided a vertical pipe communicating through the said stop cock or valve
with the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir. This pipe stops slightly short of
upper extremity of the said cup, and the latter and the said pipe are screw threaded
in order to receive suitable caps or covers. When it is desire to charge the
apparatus I remove the said caps or covers and I connect the said vertical pipe by
means of a suitable double union, provided with a stop cock or vaive, with one
extremity of a pipe the other extremity of which is connected by another union, also
provided with a stop cock or valve, to a dip pipe provided in a suitable air tight liquid
hydrocarbon supply tank or receptacle, and extending to within a short distance of
the bottom thereof. A suitable air pump is moreover provided by means of which a
sufficient pressure of air can be produced upon the surface of the liquid contained in
the said tank or receptacle, to force it up the dip pipe and through the connecting
pipe into the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir of the apparatus. By means of
the hereinbefore mentioned stop cock or valve below the cup, I am enabled to prevent
the escape
of any noxious or disagreeable smells whilst charging the appparatus. The
said cup moreover serves to catch any drippings or overflow from the connecting pipe.
The liquid hydrocarbon tank or receptacle is provided with a suitable screw threaded
plug or plugs, or with a union and stop cock or valve, for convenience of filling the
same with liquid hydrocarbon.
The said tank or receptacle when empty may also be employed for cleansing or
purifying the apparatus in the following manner, that is to say:-The said tank or
receptacle having been connected to the said apparatus in a similar manner to that
above described the stop cocks or valves between the said tank or receptacle and the
apparatus are opened, and the air pump is operated so as to form a vacuum or partial
vacuum therein. The contents of the apparatus will be thus sucked or drawn out
into the said tank or receptacle, and the apparatus advantageously cleansed or puriie 1.
It is obvious that I can employ any convenient number of the herein before described
carburetting chambers.
My improved apparatus can be worked either by supplying the liquid hydrocarbon
to the hereinbefore mentioned trays and permitting it to pass by capilliary attraction
down the said cottons or wicks, or it may be worked in the usual way viz. by permitting
the said liquid hydrocarbon to pass up the said cottons or wicks by capilliary attraction
from the bottoms of the carburetting chambers. The first of these methods is however
far more advantageous in practice, as it completely obviates the objection experienced

page_text: in the latter method that is to say, the clogging of the cottons or wicks by gummy
or viscous matter, and their being consequently rendered rapidly useless.
Although I have herein before described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat modify the
construction of my improved apparatus without however in any way departing from
the nature of my said invention. For example in order to maintain a constant. supply
from the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir to the carburetting chambers the
valve communication may be set so as to permit any desired constant flow or
supply of liquid or a small by-pass may be provided to ensure a constant supply of
liquid to the said carburetting chaiphers. Suitable vent tubes the lower extremities
of which terminate a little below the usual levels of the liquid in the said chambers,
and which project upwards into the liquid hydrocarbon, chamber or reservoir, so that
their upper extremities will just clear the lid or cover, are provided. These vent
tubes permit the air displaced by the falling liquid to enter the said chamber. When
however their lower extremities become submerged the supply of liquid will cease.
Dated this 5th day of September 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Carburetting Gas or Air.
I, JAMES LOVE of 1 Millias Terrace, Leyton Road Stratford in the County of
Essex Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus for enriching or carburetting gas or air, and is
designed to improve the construction of the same.
My said invention relates more especially to apparatus of the kind or class described
in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to George Seagrave dated 2nd
November 1886, No. 14,111, that is to say, to carburetting apparatus wherein a
chamber or reservoir for the hydrocarbon or other carburetting liquid and one or more
carburetting chambers provided with cottons or wicks are employed, situated in the
same box or case.
In apparatus of this kind or class as hitherto usually constructed it has been
necessary for an attendant to regulate the proportion between the supply of gas to be
carburetted and the consumption of the carburetted product by means of a main
valve, or by means of a subsidiary valve to each carburetting chamber. By this
arrangement however neither accuracy nor uniformity of adjustment could be
obtained in practice.
By my said invention I obviate this defect and provide means for automatically
controlling the supply of gas to the carburetting chamber or chambers in proportion
to the number of burners to which gas has to be supplied, or when the carburetted gas
is used for heating or other purposes for automatically varying the supply to the
carburetting chamber or chambers in proportion to the heat required or to the
demand for the carburetted gas, so that the carburetted gas will be maintained at an
approximately uniform density.
Another important feature of my said invention is the provision of means for
. controlling more efficiently than heretofore the supply of liquid hydrocarbon or other
carburetting liquid to the chamber or reservoir and from the latter to the carburetting
chambers and for indicating the quantities or levels of the said liquid contained
therein.
Another feature of my said invention consists in the provision of means for
periodically and automatically flushing the cottons or wicks and thus preventing them
from becoming clogged by deposits of guming or viscuous matter from the hydro-
carbon or other carburetting liquid.

page_text: My said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may he
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan partly in section.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section on the line e, a, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line y, y, Figure 1, and
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line, . Figures 1, 2, and 3 showing a
carburetting apparatus with my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 5 is a vertical section, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing a detail of
construction hereinafter described.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal central section showing an improved apparatus
which I prefer to employ for filling or charging the carburetting apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the box or case of the apparatus, B is the gas inlet or supply pipe, C is the outlet
or delivery pipe.
The box or case A may be of rectangular or other suitable shape; it is preferably
constructed of cast iron or other suitable metal, and in two or more parts which are
provided with flanges A' by means of which they are bolted or otherwise firmly
secured together. A2 is a lid or cover which is secured to the upper flange A' in
such a manner as to form a tight joint. In the box or case AI provide vertical
partitions a and a horizontal partition b, which divide it into carburetting chambers
or compartments c, a receiving chamber or compartment d for the gas to be carburetted,
a chamber or reservoir e for the carburetting liquid, and an accumulation or
condensing chamber f. The carburetting chambers c communicate through apertures (
with the chamber or compartment and through valve chambers or casings g secured
in any convenient manner to the horizontal partition b, with the receiving chamber
or compartment d. The said carburetting chambers e communicate moreover with
each other through apertures a¹ provided in the lower portions of the vertical
partitions a. The apertures a are normally sealed by the liquid contained in the said
chambers and by their means the same level of liquid is maintained in all the said
carburetting chambers.
The valve chambers g are provided with suitable valves arranged to open
downwards and with seatings g' in the said valve chambers or casings g. At a suitable
distance above the horizontal partition and directly over the above mentioned valve
chambers or casings g is provided a frame or frames i fitted with a flexible diaphragm
or diaphragms made of India-rubber, or other suitable material, the number of the
said diaphragms being equal to that of the valves h.
The diaphragm or diaphragins j are so secured in the frame or frames i as to make
the space in the chamber d intervening between the said diaphragm or diaphragms
and the horizontal partition b carrying the valve chambers or casings g, air tight, and
it is into this space that the main supply of gas to be carburetted is delivered through
the inlet or supply pipe B. The admission of gas through the inlet or supply pipe B
is controlled by the three way cock or valve. The inlet or supply pipe B is connected
moreover to the outlet pipe Ċ by another pipe Band is provided with another three-
way cock or valve . The pipe B' thus forms a by-pass through which more or less
of the air or other gas may be delivered if required without having been carburetted
or enriched. A is a dial and a finger or pointer adapted to indicate upon the said
dial in which direction the three-way stop-cock or valve k is opened. The stop cock
or valve is sometimes provided with a similar dial and pointer. The valves are
formed of such an area as to ensure their admitting the proper supply of gas to the
carburetting chambers c in accordance with the quantity of carburetted or enriched gas
being consun.ed or delivered, and are provided with spindles h² by means of which they
are secured to the flexible diaphragms j. The valve stems are moreover provided
with weights, the number of which is so regulated that they will permit the
diaphragms to rise one after the other as the pressure of gas increases in the chamber
or compartment d, by reason of any reduction in the quantity of gas consumed or

page_text: withdrawn from the apparatus, and thus also successively raise or close the valves h.
The admission apertures to the carburetting chambers are thus shut off automatically
one after the other and only sufficient gas to meet the demand is admitted thereto,
the said gas heing thus prevented from becoming over-carburetted when the
consumption or demand is small. The weights upon the diaphragm which is
arranged to rise last under the pressure of the gas, are so arranged that they will
not permit the said diaphragm to rise and entirely close the valve with which it is
connected so long as there is any gas being withdrawn from the "accumulation”
condensing chamber f. In order to permit the escape of the air contained in the space
in the chamber or compartment d above the said diaphragmsj I provide in the cover
or lid A2 a vent m which is preferably formed in the shape of a mushroom, the air
holes m being situated upon the under side of the head thereof thus obviating any
liability of the same becoming choked by dirt or the like.
or
To prevent the passage through the said vent holes m' of any noxious smells that
may permeate through the said diaphragm or diaphragms 1 prefer to provide a
second diaphragm n, which may be inserted between the cover or lid A² and the upper
flange A of the box or case A and arranged to bulge or sag downwards, in the
manner shown in the drawings, into the said space above the first or lower diaphragm
or diaphragms j.
o, o are the cottons or wicks. For securing the said cottons or wicks o in the
carburetting chambers c and supplying liquid hydrocarbon thereto, I employ the
following devices that is to say I provide an H or other suitably shaped trough or
tray which is channel shaped half-round or of other suitable form in transverse
section, and which has dependent vertically from the centre or cross_portion thereof a
suitable tube or well p'. The cottons or wicks o are secured in the trough or tray p
by means of brass or other rods g under which they pass and the extremities thereof
are passed or threaded through suitable holes provided in perforated plates r secured
to the basket or frames supporting the said tray, as more clearly shown in Figure 5.
For supplying the hydrocarbon or other carburetting liquid to the trough or tray p
I provide in the above mentioned tube or well p' a dip-pipe t extending nearly to the
bottom thereof. The dip-pipe t communicates through a suitable stop-cock or valve t¹
with the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir e situated above. The valve stem
or rod of the said stop cock or valve t¹ extends up through a suitable stuffing-box t³
and gland provided in the lid or cover A2, and has a square or other suitably
shaped portion to provided thereon so that the said stop cock or valve t' can he opened
or closed when desired by means of a suitable key, t is a cap or guard arranged to
screw upon the stuffing box t3 so as to cover the said projecting extremity and prevent
the said stop cock or valve t¹ from being tampered with accidentally or otherwise. I
sometimes provide another dip-pipe u extending to near the bottom of one of the
carburetting chambers c and communicating with the liquid hydrocarbon chamber
or reservoir e by means of a stop-cock or valve ul having a rod or stem u, a stuffing
box u, a gland us, and a cap or guard u, similar to those above describe.l. For
supplying the hydrocarbon or other carburetting liquid automatically to the above
described trough or tray p at predetermined intervals, I provide a vent pipe v
extending from a short distance below the ordinary level of the liquid in the bottom
of the carburetting chambers, to a short distance above the highest level of the said
liquid in the said liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir e. When the lever of the
liquid in the bottom of the said carburetting chamber e passes below a notch v provided
in the lower extremity of the said vent pipe v gas wil pass up the latter and into the
space in the chamber or reservoir e above the liquid, and by increasing the pr ssure
upon the surface of the said liquid in the said chamber or reservoir cause a tow to
take place through the valve or stop cock t', and dip-pipe t, and consequently up the
vertical tube or well pl and into and over the trough or tray p so as to fish the
cottons or wicks o. When the level of the liquid in the carburetting cham er again
rises, and the notch at the extremity of the said dip pipe r becomes submergal the
gas is prevented from passing to the chamber or reservoir e, and the pressure upon the
surface of the liquid and consequently the flow through the stop cock or atve ¹

page_text: ceases. When desired the liquid may be periodically automatically fed to the
bottom of the carburetting chambers e in a similar manner through the dip pipe » by
closing the stop cock or valve and opening the stop cock or valve ¹. The said
dip pipes t and u are very efficiently sealed by the liquid which always remains in the
vertical tube or well p' and in the carburetting chambers e.
provide moreover improved means for easily ascertaining at any time the exact
heights or levels of the hydrocarbon or other liquid in the carburetting chambers c
and in the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir e. For this purpose I employ
suitable vertical tubes te open at their lower extremities. In the tubes w are provided
floats formed of glass or other suitable material, the stems ² of which pass up
through holes provided in the lid or cover A2 into glass tubes of somewhat larger
diameter than the said stems, and the upper extremities whereof are closed or sealed
and the lower extremities whereof are open. The outer tubes * are secured to the
said lid or cover A and provided with stuffing boxes and glands ², or other
suitable means for forming tight joints round the same.
Cut
To
away tubes or shields y* having suitably graduated scales y' attached thereto or
forming part thereof, are moreover provided round the said outer glass tubes.**.
prevent accidental breakage or damage to these gauges I provide caps or guards „*
adapted to fit over the tubes or shields y* and secured to the stuffing boxes. by means
of screw-threads, or in any other convenient manner.
u³, u are holes or apertures provided in the upper parts of the said vertical tubes w
to permit the escape of any gas or air that may be contained therein when the
floats are rising, and its admission thereto when they are falling and thus to
produce an equilibrium.
For charging or filling the apparatus with liquid hydrocarbon or other carburetting
liquid I provide upon the cover or lid A2 a suitable stop cock or valve * having upon
its upper extremity a eup in which is provided a vertical pipe communicating
through the said stop cock or valve with the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or
reservoir e. The pipe 2 extends to within a short distance of the upper extremity of
the said cup, and the upper extremity of the latter and of the said pipe are
screw-threaded in order to receive suitable caps or covers ³.
When
is a pipe extending to within a short distance of the bottom of one of the
carburetting chambers e for purging, purifying or emptying the said carburetting
chambers. The pipe is provided upon its upper extremity with a stop-cork or
valve having an externally screw-threaded nozzle 26 and a cap or cover 2.
it is desired to charge the apparatus or to purge or purify the carburetting chambers c,
the screw threaded extremity of the pipe 22 or of the pipe 24 is connected by means of
a suitable pipe to a tank or receptacle hereinafter described.
Figure 6 illustrates the form of apparatus which I prefer to employ for filling or
charging the chamber or reservoir e with liquid hydrocarbon or other carburetting
liquid, or for emptying or removing the said liquid and purifying or purging the
carburetting chamber c. Any other suitable means however may be employed for
that purpose.
D is a tank or receptacle containing the hydrocarbon or other carburetting liquid,
provided with a suitable air pump E, the piston E¹ of which can be operated by a
handle E², provided upon the extremity of the rod or stem E³ thereof. E are the
valves. The said air pump E communicates with the upper portion of the said tank
or receptacle by means of a pipe F provided with a two-way stop-cock or valve F',
and with the atmosphere through a pipe E' provided with a screw-threaded nozzle Eº.
G is a stop-cock or valve having an externally screw threaded nozzle G¹ for con-
venience of filling the tank or receptacle D, with liquid hydrocarbon, or other
carburetting liquid. H is a stop-cock or valve for permitting any air that may be
contained in the tank or receptacle D to escape when it is being filled with the said
liquid. is a dip-pipe the lower extremity of which extends to within a short
distance of the bottom of the said tank or receptacle D. The said dip pipe I is
provided upon its upper extremity with a stop cock or valve J having an externally
screw threaded nozzle J¹. When it is desired to charge the apparatus the caps or

page_text: Covers 2
are removed, and the vertical pipe is connected to the stop cock or
valve J by means of a suitable stop cock or valve K having at one extremity a nut
or union K adapted to fit upon the screw-threaded extremity of the said pipe 22, and
having at the other extremity an externally screw-threaded nozzle K. L is a short
length of pipe one extremity of which is coupled by means of a suitable union M to
the nozzle K2, and the other extremity by means of a suitable union M to the
nozzle J¹.
By turning the two-way stop cock or valve F1 so as to open the communication
through the pipe F between the air pump E and the tank a receptacle D, and
operating the said air pump so as to produce a sufficient pressure of air in the space
above the liquid in the upper part of the said tank or receptacle, the said pressure
will act upon the surface of the said liquid so as to force it up the dip pipe I and
through the connecting pipe I into the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir e of
the apparatus. By means of the stop cock or valve below the cup I am enabled
to prevent the escape of any noxious or disagreeable smells whilst charging the
apparatus. The said cup z moreover serves to catch any drippings or overflow from
the connecting pipe L when disconnecting the latter. Instead of the stop-cock or
valves Hand G the liquid hydrocarbon tank or receptacle D may be provided with a
suitable screw threaded plug or plugs for a like purpose.
The tank or receptacle D when empty may also be advantageously employed for
cleansing purging or emptying the carburetting chambers of the apparatus in the
following manner that is to say:-The said tank or receptacle D is connected to the
nozzle (the cap or cover 27 being first removed) in a similar manner to that above
described. The stop cocks or valves K and J are then opened, and the nozzle E
is connected by a flexible pipe or tube and suitable unions or couplings (as shown in
chain lines Figure 6) with the nozzle-G The stop oock or valve G is opened, and
the two way cock or valve F1 turned so as to allow the air pump E to discharge
through a hole F provided in the casing of the said two way cock or valve. The air
pump can then be operated so as to remove the air from the interior of the tank or
receptacle D and form a vacuum therein, and the contents of the carburetting
chambers will be sucked or drawn out into the said tank or receptacle and thus be
advantageously cleansed, purged or emptied.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say:-The liquid hydro-
carbon chamber or reservoir e is first charged or filled with suitable carburetting
liquid in the above described or in any other suitable manner. The stop cock or valve k
is then opened so as to admit a supply of gas to the chamber d through the inlet or
supply pipe B, and the stop cock or valve to permit the required gas supply to be
withdrawn from the condenser or accumulating chamber through the outlet or
delivery pipe C. The gas delivered to the chamber d will pass through the valve
chambers or casings g to the carburetting chambers e, the valves h remaining open so
long as the full or nearly the full amount of gas delivered through the inlet or supply
pipe B is being consumed or withdrawn through the outlet or delivery pipe C. The
gas passing through the said carburetting chambers e circulates through and amongst
the cottons or wicks o which are saturated with bydrocarbon or other suitable
carburetting liquid, and becoming carburetted or enriched thereby passes to the
condenser or accumulating chamber f, from which it is removed for consumption or
other purposes by means of the said ontlet or delivery pipe C. The cottons or wicks o
take up the liquid from the trough or tray p by capilliary attraction and it passes
down the said cottons or wicks, that portion not taken up by the gas being deposited
in the bottom of the carburetting chamber c. When all the said liquid contained in
the tray p has been sucked up and passed down the cottons or wicks o, it begins to
rise in the said cottons or wicks o by capilliary attraction, from the supply contained
in the bottom of the said carburetting chambers c. This action continues until the
level of the liquid falls below the notch v' in the pipe v, when gas is admitted up the
latter to the space in the chamber or reservoir e above the liquid as hereinbefore
described, and a fresh supply is forced through the stop cock or valve t¹ down the
pipe t into the well p' and trough or tray p.

page_text: The said liquid runs over the edges of the trough or tray and flushes the cottons
or wicks o, the said flashing action continuing until the level of the said liquid in the
carburetting chamber e again rises above the notch in the pipe v. By periodically
flushing the said cottons or wicks as above described, they are kept clean and free
from any sticky or gummy matter that might otherwise accumulate thereon. This
periodical automatic feeding and flushing continues so long as any gas is passing
through the apparatus. Should the consumption of gas be sufficiently reduced the
diaphragms will rise as hereinbefore mentioned one after the other, according to
the number of the weights 1, and close or partially close the valves h so as to reduce
the supply of gas to the carburetting chambers e, in accordance with the demand or
consumption thereof.
It is obvious that any convenient number of the herein before described carburetting
chambers may be employed, and also that the said apparatus may be worked either by
supplying the hydrocarbon, or other carburetting liquid to the cottons or wicks in
the manner herein before described. or in the usual manner ei. by permitting the
said hydrocarbon or other carburetting liquid to pass only up the said cottons or
wicks by capilliary attraction from the supply of liquid in the bottom of the carburet-
ing chambers. In this case the stop valve or cock is closed, and the stop valve or
cock is opened, the periodical automatic feel taking place through the said stop
cock or valve and pipe in a similar manner. The first of these methods is
however far more advantageous in practice as it completely obviates, or very much
reduces, the objection experienced in the latter method, that is to say, the clogging of
the cottons or wicks by gummy or viscous matter and their being consequently
rendered rapidly useless.
Although I have hereinbefore described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat modify the
construction of my improved apparatus without departing from the nature of my said
invention. For example in order to maintain a constant supply from the liquid
hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir to the carburetting chambers, the valve communi-
cation may be set so as to permit any desired constant flow or supply of liquid, or a
small by-pass may be provided to ensure a constant supply of liquid to the said
carburetting chambers. One or more vent tubes the lower extremities of which
terminate a little below the usual levels of the liquid in the said chambers, and which
project upwards into the liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir, so that their upper
extremities will just clear the lid or cover, are moreover sometimes provided. These
vent tubes permit the air displaced by the falling liquid to enter the said chamber.
When however their lower extremities become submerged the supply of liquid will
cease.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that claim:-
First. A carburetting apparatus wherein suitable provision is made for causing the
alternate ascent and descent of the carburetting liquid by means of cottons or wicks,
for the purpose above specified.
Second. A carburetting apparatus such as I have hereinbefore described, provided
with means for antomatically regulating the quantity of air or other gas to the
carburetting chamber or chambers according to the consumption of the carburetted
gas, for the purpose above specified.
Third. A carburetting apparatus wherein suitable provision is made for poriodically
and automatically feeding the carburetting liquid into one or more troughs or trays
from which cottons or wicks are suspended, for the purpose above specified.
Fourth. A carburetting apparatus wherein cottons or wicks are employed and
wherein suitable provision is made for periodically and automatically flushing the
said cottons or wicks, for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. The employment in a carburetting apparatus such as 1 have hereinbefore
described, of one or more valve chambers provided with valves the stems of which are
B

page_text: secured to diaphragms and are suitably weighted, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Sixth. The combination with a chamber or reservoir for the carburetting liquid
and one or more carbureiting chambers, of one or more troughs or trays supported
upon baskets or frames, cottons or wicks suspended from the said troughs or trays, a
perforated plate or plates through which the said cottons or wicks are passed, and
suitable means for periodically and automatically feeding or supplying the said
troughs or trays with the carburetting liquid, substantially as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Seventh. The improved means substantially as described for indicating the
height or level of the liquid in the carburetting chamber or chambers and in the
liquid hydrocarbon chamber or reservoir.
Eighth. The improved means, substantially as described, whereby the gas, or a
portion thereof, may be passed from the inlet or supply pipe to the outlet or delivery
pipe without passing through the carburetting chamber or chambers, for the purpose
above specified.
Ninth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings and operating in the
manner and for the purposes herein before specified.
Tenth. The improved apparatus, substantially as described with reference to
Figure 6 of the drawings, for filling or charging the carburetting apparatus with the
hydrocarbon or other liquid, or for purifying, purging, or emptying the said carburet
ting apparatus as above specified.
Lova