Automatic Apparatus for Indicating the Presence In or Absence From a Space of Gases of Different Specific Gravity from the Ordinary Gaseous Contents of such Space.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Apparatus for Indicating the Presence In or Absence
From a Space of Gases of Different Specific Gravity from the
Ordinary Gaseous Contents of such Space.
I, BERNHARD EGGER of V Griesgasse 36, Vienna, Austria, Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an apparatus for indicating automatically (according to
volume percentages) outside of a given space normally occupied by a gas or gases
the presence in or absence from such space of other or foreign gas or gases of
different specific gravity from that of the usual gaseous contents of the said space.
The apparatus comprises a vessel which is filled with a gas of known specific
gravity and is suspended from one arm of a balance beam, the other arm of which
carries a weight for balancing the said vessel and is connected with a suitable
electrical contact device for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
The weights of the parts are so adjusted that the balance carrying the gas vessel
will be in equilibrium when the apparatus is immersed in gas of the specific gravity
of that normally occupying the space in which the apparatus is to be used.
When gas of a specific gravity other than that of the gas enclosed in the vessel,
enters the space in which the apparatus is located, or the gas passes out of the said
space or is displaced by another gas, the vessel will as its buoyancy varies by the
difference of the specific gravities, sink or rise according as a gas of less or of
greater specific gravity surrounds the vessel.
The consequent movement or throw of the balance beam will cause by means of
the contact device above referred to the interruption or the completion, as the case
may be, of an electric circuit in which a signalling or indicating device situated
at a suitable point is included, a series of contacts being provided, each of which is
arranged to be operated by a predetermined difference of specific gravity and thus
the quantity of the gas is indicated in an automatic manner according to per-
centages of volume.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figs. 1 and 2 show diagrammatically two modes of construction of apparatus
according to this invention.
Figs. 3 to 6 show various forms of the vessel, hereinbefore referred to.
As will be seen a vessel B filled with a gas of known specific gravity, is suspended
from the arm y of a very sensitive balance beam H pivoted at ; the other arm =
of the balance beam carries a counterweight K so that the balance is in equilibrium
under normal conditions.
Since the vessel B must not be sensitive to the pressure and temperature
variations of the gas surrounding it, and in order that its volume may vary
according to the tension of the said gas, and that there may always be the same
pressure within and without the vessel, a portion of the vessel or the entire vessel
(which may in other respects be of any suitable form) is made advantageously of
flexible material. Thus Fig. 4 shows a vessel having a bottom, and Fig. 5 shows
a vessel having side walls, of india rubber, whilst Fig. 6 shows a vessel consisting
of an india rubber balloon. The vessel may also as shown in Fig. 3, be closed by
a cover A which dips more or less according to the variations of pressure into the
gutter C that is filled with liquid. The vessel is suspended in this case by the
handle D.
of the balance beam H acts upon a contact device which is included
in the circuit of a suitable signalling or indicating device; said contact device
consisting either as shown in Fig. 1 of a series of contact plates such for example
The arm

page_text: as the series a, b, c, d, which contact plates are raised successively corresponding
with the percentages of volume of the gas entering the space, or there is provided
as shown in Fig. 2 on the arm z an extension furnished with a series of contact
pieces a, b, c, d, of different lengths each of which dips into a cup filled with
mercury or other conducting liquid. These contact pieces are lifted out of the
cups in succession as the arm z rises according to the increase in the percentages
of volume of the foreign gas of less specific weight entering the space.
By the removal of the contact pieces from their respective cups the circuits
connected therewith are broken and the signalling or indicating apparatus IV, III,
II, I, connected therewith are successively set in operation.
It is to be understood that the contact device may also be arranged in such a
manner that the signalling device shall be operated by the closing of the circuit.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an arrangement for indicating the entry into the space
containing the apparatus of gases the specific gravity of which is less than that of
the gas contained in the vessel B.
The apparatus described may however also by suitably modifying the arrange-
ment of the contacts serve for indicating the presence of specifically heavier gases,
or both arrangements may be connected together in such a manner as to render the
apparatus suited to indicate the presence of gases of less as also of greater specific
gravity.
The apparatus may advantageously be employed for indicating the presence of
fire damp in mines, the presence of injurious gases in dwellings, and for similar
purposes.
Daha 1
SM 1001
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Apparatus for Indicating the Presence In or Absence
From a Space of Gases of Different Specific Gravity from the
Ordinary Gaseous Contents of such Space.
I, BERNHARD EGGER of V Griesgasse 36, Vienna, Austria, 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 apparatus for indicating automatically (according
to volume percentages) outside of a given space normally occupied by a gas or
gases the presence in or absence from such space of other or foreign gas or gases
of different specific gravity from that of the usual gaseous contents of the said
space. The apparatus comprises a vessel which is filled with a gas of known
specific gravity and is suspended from one arm of a balance beam, the other arm of
which carries a weight for balancing the said vessel and is connected with a suitable
electrical contact device for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
The weights of the parts are so adjusted that the balance carrying the gas vessel
will be in equilibrium, when the apparatus is immersed in gas of the specific gravity
of that normally occupying the space in which the apparatus is to be used.
When gas of a specific gravity other than that of the gas enclosed in the vessel,
enters the space in which the apparatus is located, or the gas passes out of the said
space or is displaced by another gas, the vessel will as its buoyancy varies by the
difference of the specific gravities, sink or rise according as a gas of less or of
greater specific gravity surrounds the vessel.
The consequent movement or throw of the balance beam will cause by means of
the contact device above referred to, the interruption, or the completion, as the
case may be, of an electric circuit in which a signalling or indicating device

page_text: situated at a suitable point is included, a series of contacts being provided, each of
which is arranged to be operated by a predetermined difference of specific gravity
and thus the quantity of the foreign gas liable to enter the space in which the
apparatus is placed will be indicated in an automatic manner according to
percentages of volume.
Referring to the drawing filed with my Provisional Specification
Figs. 1 and 2 show diagrammatically two modes of construction of apparatus
according to this invention.
Figs. 3 to 6 show various forms of the vessel, herein before referred to.
As will be seen, a vessel B filled with a gas of known specific gravity, is
suspended from the army of a very sensitive balance beam H pivoted at a; the
other arm z of the balance beam carries a counterweight K so that the balance is
in equilibrium under normal conditions.
Since the vessel B must not be sensitive to the pressure and temperature
variations of the gas surrounding it, and in order that its volume may vary
according to the tension of the said gas and that there may always be the same
pressure within and without the vessel, a portion of the vessel or the entire vessel
(which may in other respects be of any suitable form) is made advantageously of
flexible material. Thus Eig. 4 shows a vessel having a bottom, and Fig. 5 shows
a vessel having side walls of india rubber, whilst Fig. 6 shows a vessel consisting
of an india rubber balloon. The vessel may also, as shown in Fig. 3, be closed by
a cover A which dips more or less according to the variations of pressure into the
gutter C that is filled with liquid. The vessel is suspended in this case by the
handle D.
The arm z of the balance beam H acts upon a contact device which is included
in the circuit of a suitable signalling or indicating device; said contact device
consisting either as shown in Fig. 1 of a series of contact plates such for example
as the series a, b, c, d, which contact plates are raised successively corresponding
with the percentages of volume of the gas entering the space, or there is provided
as shown in Fig. 2 on the arm an extension furnished with a series of contact
pieces a, b, c, d, of different lengths each of which dips into a cup filled with
mercury or other conducting liquid. These contact pieces are lifted out of the
cups in succession as the arm z rises according to the increase in the percentages of
volume of the foreign gas of less specific weight entering the space.
By the removal of the contact pieces from their respective cups the circuits
connected therewith are broken and the signalling or indicating apparatus IV, III,
II, I connected therewith are successively set in operation.
It is to be understood that the contact device may also be arranged in such a
manner that the signalling device shall be operated by the closing of the circuit.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an arrangement for indicating the entry into the space
containing the apparatus, of gases the specific gravity of which is less than that of
the gas contained in the vessel B.
The apparatus described may however also by suitably modifying the arrange-
ment of the contacts serve for indicating the presence of specifically heavier gases,
or both arrangements may be connected together in such a manner as to render the
apparatus suited to indicate the presence of gases of less as also of greater specific
gravity.
The apparatus may advantageously be employed for indicating the presence of
fire damp in mines, the presence of injurious gases in dwellings, and for similar
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
An apparatus for indicating the presence in, or absence from, a space, of gases
of different specific gravity from the ordinary gaseous contents of such space,
Glled th
and whose valume varios automatically with

page_text: variations in the pressure and temperature of the surrounding gas, which is
suspended from a balanced beam connected with a suitable electrical contact
device, the arrangement being such that when the space in which the vessel is
suspended is filled with gas of the normal specific gravity, the balance beam will
be in equilibrium, but on the entry into such space of a foreign gas or gases of
different specific gravity, the balance beam will be moved and break or close one
or more electric contacts according to the percentage of the foreign gas or
gases present which can be indicated at a distant point substantially as herein
described.
Dated this 8th day of Febru 1809
BERNHARD EGGER,
By L. W., per F. B.