An Automatic Method of Controlling the Flow of Liquids and of Estimating the Quantity which Flows, intended more particularly for Use in Distilleries
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Method of Controlling the Flow of Liquids and of
Estimating the Quantity which Flows, intended more particularly
for Use in Distilleries,
ALLAN PETER SWAN, Distiller, Bandon, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows
-
The method is based on the principle that liquids of known specific gravity will
flow through oufices of varying shape at different uniform rates of speed which are
proportionate to the area of the orifices and the pressure of the liquid upon them
The orifices may be of any shape, as calculated to best suit varying pressure
requirements, or varying, degrees of exactitude in measurement, and may, for
convenience of regulation, be adjustable to any required area or speed of flow
When iegulated, the ounce oi oufices will act as a constant and will indicate
an uncertain or 111egular flow thro' it, or through them by the varying height
to which the liquid uses, the equivalent quantity can be constantly seen on a
figured scale which will give its reading at the hughest level of the liquid
Dated this 5th day of June 1898.
An Automatic Method of Controlling the Flow of Liquids and of
Estimating the Quantity which Flows, intended more particularly
for Use in Distilleries.
I, ALLAN PETER SWAN, late of Bandon, co Cork, now of Dundalk, co Louth,
Ireland, Distilleı, 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 method is based on the principle that liquids of known specific gravity will
flow through onfices of varying shape at different uniform rates of speed, which
are proportionate to the area of the oufices and the pressure of liquid upon them
The oufices may be of any shape, as calculated to best suit varying pressure
requirements, or varying degrees of exactitude in measurement, and may for
convenience of regulation be adjustable to any required area or speed of flow
When regulated the orifice, oi orifices, will act as a constant, and will indicate
an uncertain or irregular flow of liquid through it, or through them, by the varving
height to which the liquid rises, the equivalent quantity can be constantly been
on a figured scale which will give its reading at the highest level of the liquid
Price Rd11

page_text: The accompanying drawings describe my application of this principle to practical
uses of control and measurement, of control, when the flow is an irregular one
needing frequent adjustment, and of estimated measurement against time when
the flow is adjustable to a regular speed, any variation from which can be at once
seen and corrected.
Fig 1 shows the end view of a circular 2 pipe with three longitudinal lines
marked "a," "b" and "o"
Figs 2, 3, and 4 show figures of varying shape but all of about the same super-
ficial area as the pipe of Fig 1
Fig 5 shows the outline of a tube with an ofice cut in it of about the area
of the preceeding figures, the dotted lines indicate a piece of wuo soldered on to it
and a tapered end
Fig. 6 shows a tube in section with an upright orifice cut in it of the same area
as Fig 5, this tube has a bottom with a circular orifice cut in it of an area about
equal to the perpendicular slot, and a branch bend is seen coming into the tube
at its lowest level.
Fig 7 shows Fig 6 in plan with the bottom oufice & bianch.
Fig 8 shows in section my adjustable instrument for controlling and measuring
liquids, it is fixed in a glass bowl
Fig 9 shows the same instrument in elevation, with its front plate removed
to expose the working of the moveable plates over the slot orifice, also to show
my mathod of using different plates of varying known areas
Fig 10 shows the instrument in plan, placed excentically in its bowl with its
outlet pipe and distributor, also the font plate and scale figured thereon to
indicate a speed of flow at the different levels of the liquid
In the application of my invention to existing "tail pipes" it is of great import-
ance to use as little vertical space as possible, and the figures on Sheet 1 are
intended to show economies in thus direction while explaining the punciple on
which its construction is based
In practice it is impossible to estimate, with any degree of certainty, the speed
of flow through an ordinary circular pipe, as the average run should occur at the
pipe's central portion where the smallest differences of level arise.
a
"
66
25
".
66
a
In Fig I show the end view of a circular pipe, with three horizontal lines
marked """ and "c," the central line " is intended to mark the level
to which the liquid rises with an average flow, the upper line "6" 18 supposed to
shew its maximum, and the lower line c" its minimum variation. The lower
space "" thus encloses the minimum flow-say 200 gallone an hour-and the
upper space e serves to cairy off any unusual surplus while the central space
enclosed by the lines "b" and c represents the total variation in flow say from
200 to 400 gallons per hour, the central line "a" indicating an average flow of
say 300 gallons per hour In Fig. 2 I show a figure representing roughly the
same area as the pipes orifice shown in Fig 1, with the difference that the hori-
zontal lines "6" and "c" which enclose the vanation in flow, are made to form
a vertical column of liquid about 21 high and broad, instead of a flat stream
high and 2 broad, as, with a liquid escaping through a narrow slot orifice
such as that enclosed between the levels "6" and "e"the height to which it
rises can be more readily seem, and will allow of a more accurate estimate being
formed of the quantity which flows Fig 3 and 4 again represent orifices of about
the same area as Figure 2, but with a column slot twice as high for more exact
observation and Fig 4 shows a gain in space by the use of rectangular instead of
semi-circular orifices "e" and "d" Fig 5 shows a further gain in space as it
is supposed to represent a tube, with a closed bottom the orifice shown being cut
in its side, and the gain arises as the space marked e in Figs 2, 3, and 4 can
be dispensed with owing to the pipe naturally overflowing at its open upper end
Fig shows in section a similar tube to that outlined in Fig. 5, open at the
top for overflow and the minimum flow "d" made to pass through a circular
orifice placed at light angles to the vertical slot in the bottom of the tube, a
"

page_text: branch pipe bend is seen through which the supply is conveyed to the tube Fig. 7
shows Fig. 6 in plan with the bottom orifice "d" exposed.
These Figures 2 to 7 Sheet 1, serve to illustrate the principle on which my
system of control is based when the flow is variable, and the available space is
estricted to a few inches Figs 23, and, 4 represent onfices through which
the liquid is made to pass, running outward from within, these oufices can be
cut in a plate and the plate fixed on the side of the vessel into which the liquid
flows, or they may be cut in the side of the vessel itself. Figs. 5 and 6 represent
tubes in which the orifices are cut as shown, the latter Fig. 6 is the most economical
application of the principle as regards space, but No. with a tapered end, as
shown by the dotted lines, and with its bottom removed, that is as an open tube—
can be made to perform its duty in another way now to be described.
The orifices shown on Sheet 1 are all intended to act as outlets for a flow from
within, and are attachable to the pipes themselves through which the liquid runs,
but preferably, with an intervening vessel of glass to facilitate observation and to
serve for dissipating air bubbles The height to which the liquid rises gives in
all cases the indication, from which the rate of flow is estimated In Fig. 6
Sheet I-the best design of the series-the bottom orifice "d" should be adjusted
to the minimum flow, and the perpendicular slot regulated to carry away the
variable increase to the maximum flow, the available height for this being utilised
in an orifice sufficiently nairow to ensure observation for its entire length
When a space of 5 and upwards is available it is best to apply thus system
of control in the reverse direction, that 18 by external pressure wards. This
method also admits of more delicate adjustment, and a more conspicuous leading.
On Sheet 2 Fig. 8 18 seen in section a glass bowl A having a ciicular discharge
orifice B through its bottom, to which 18 attached the biass flange seating C which
is held in position by the pinch nut D, and made water tight by rubber rings
The seating 18 coned at E to receive the controlling instrument which consists
of a hollow brass casting with an orifice G below, adjustable to any rate of flow
by the internal ball headed obstruction bolt H. This orifice G 18 intended to carry
away the minimum flow ("d" of Sheet I) or, in a case in which the flow is more
constant to work in conjunction with the adjustable plates, L, L,--now to be
described-for the best utilisation of the space available The front of the brass
column F, is made and ground flat at I (see Fig. 10) to receive two adjustable
plates, by means of which a slot of any size can be opened and after waids fixed
by the pinch nuts S. These are marked, L, L, and are best seen in position on
Fig 9 Sheet 3.
The bell mouthed tube P (Fig 8) is intended to receive the liquid and deliver
it at the bottom of the bowl without undue movement, thus rendering a better
reading at the surface possible
This is better seen on Sheet 4 Fig 10 which shows the instrument in plan with
the "tail pipe "Q" which serves to bring the liquid to it; the front index
plate is also here seen screwed in position by the pinch nuts S over the adjust-
able plates L, L This index plate is also seen in elevation with a centimetre scale
and equivalent reading in gallons
Fig 9 Sheet 3, shows an alternative method of adjusting the lower circular
orifice G by means of an interchangeable plate N one of a series with carefully
bored oufices of varying area, this plate is fixed in position by means of the two
pinch nuts S S
The action of the attachment plates or tubes, Figs. 2 to 7 Sheet 1, and of the
adjustable instrument figured on Sheets 2, 3, and 4 is the same in both cases
excepting that in the former the liquid runs outward through the orifices, while in
the latter it escapes by inward pressure through the orifice G and slot K (Fig. 9)
into the brass cylinder F from where it descends freely at R and is conducted by
pipes into the vessel intended for its reception
The working action of my control and measuring appliance, is best seen on
Sheet 2 Fig. 8; the bell-mouthed pipe P, first receives the liquid and conveys it

page_text: to the bottom of the glass bowl; with the orifice G more or less obstructed (or the
plate N Fig 9, with a small orifice) the escape down the tube at R 18 at first slow,
this increases as the liquid 11ses, and as the iun through the slot K between the
plates, L, L, 18 added to that of the basal orifice (seen best fully open in Fig 9
Sheet 3 though in reality it 18 generally closed to a breadth varying from 10
to of an inch) The controlling action of the slot begins from the moment the
liquid runs through it and continues until that height is reached where the area
of the orifices with the pressure upon them, causes the liquid to escape at the
same rate at which it runs in, the surface of the liquid is then stationary and this
balance can be maintained-when the flow is not too irregular-by an adjustment
of level quick enough to allow the readings to be constantly reliable.
Fig 5, Sheet 1, when made to act as an open tube, hollow, and tapered at the
bottom to fit into a seating, is the simplest application of my control instrument,
it 18 not adjustable but when once regulated its action is quite trustworthy One
of the chief uses of the adjustable instrument with the orifice plates N and adjust-
able slot to measured area (Fig 9) is to facilitate the making of such tubes as
that outlined in Fig. 5, and when owing to varying specific gravity of the liquid
to be controlled, or other causes, calculation by aira and pressure alone, would be
subject to error Such tubes working singly from a series, would fit in the same
cone E (Fig 8) and serve the same purpose of control, as the much more expensive
instruments shown in Figs 8, 9 and 10
I do not comprise in this description any arrangement for allowing the liquid
to enter through the bottom of the glass bowl, nor have I shown moveable slot
plates of measured area, or adjustable slot plates to move in sections to different
sized openings It is also evident that for varying regularity in the speed of flow,
the instruments should be made of varing hieght depending on the space available
and with the slot and circular orifices of either fixed or adjustable area-adapt-
able to either combined or independent working
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim, 18:
A contrivance substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings,
of entirely novel construction, for controlling and for estimating the flow of
liquids, based on the use of a columnar slot orifice, which allows of the contiol
being made in a very restricted vertical space.
The use of an internal obstruction bolt and of moveable plates, which admit of
apid adjustment of orifice and slot for purposes of control
Also the use of interchangeable plates of known areas for the purpose of
measuring against time when fixed to a similar instrument, and used instead of,
or in conjunction with, the adjustable orifices described.
Dated this 6th day of March 1899
ALLAN P SWAN,
Applicant.