Improvements in or connected with the Supply of Liquor to Ammonia Stills.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Supply of Liquor to
Ammonia Stills.
We, JAMES JONES MELDRUM, and THOMAS FREDERICK MELDRUM, both of
Atlantic Works, City Road, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the supplying of liquor to ammonia stills, by steam-jet
or other pumping apparatus, and has mainly for its object to feed or supply the
liquor at a constant rate to the still.
In the operation of, or according to this invention, the level of liquor in a vessel
interposed between the forcing or supplying apparatus, and the still to be supplied,
is caused or adapted to regulate or control the rate of feed of the liquor to such
still.
In the following example of apparatus by which the supply of liquor to an
ammonia still is carried out, a steam jet or forcing or supply pump is employed
as the means of lifting and supplying the liquor. Between this steam-jet pump and
the still, the interposed vessel is provided, and into it the steam-jet pump forces
the liquor. The variation of level in the vessel, due to slightly irregular feed or
other cause, is caused or adapted to effect a reflux of liquor to the forcing or
lifting apparatus or feed tank or well, and a practically constant head therein,
(namely, sufficiently constant to give a regular feed) is obtained by causing such
very small variations of level in said supply vessel to effect the reflux of liquor
specified. To effect this reflux of liquor, a floater directly or indirectly connected
with a liquor controlling valve or device, may be employed with advantage, small
variations of level being adapted to actuate the floater and the reflux valve
connected therewith.
The liquor is fed from the governing vessel to the still by gravity, and the rate
of feed thereto is regulated by a suitable cock or valve.
In one arrangement, the floater may actuate a valve directly in such a manner
that as the float is lifted by the rise of level of liquor in the vessel, the valve gives
greater opening for the return or reflux of liquor. The valve or valve case in
such a construction, communicates, by a pipe, with the steam-jet pump, and to or in
connection with this pipe or inlet the 1.ft pipe of the liquor supply is provided.
In the operation of this apparatus, when the level of liquor in the governor vessel
arises abnormally, the floater and reflux valve are actuated, and the excess of liquor
is returned to the supply or feed apparatus, and hence no material variation of head
of liquor supplying the still, can take place and consequently a practically constant
rate of feed is obtained.
In most cases, the pump or ejector is so worked as to feed to the governor vessel,
more than the quantity required to feed the still, and more or less of the liquor is
constantly returned or circulated, the reflux valve never being entirely closed.
In pumping or raising gas liquor, where tar is present, we sometimes use in
connection with the suction or intake pipe, means for maintaining the inlet orifice
of such pipe always only a few inches below the top of the liquor, and thereby
obviate the risk of pumping tar instead of liquor. A convenient means for
maintaining this depth of immersion of the suction pipe inlet orifice consists of a
flexible tube, or metal tube having a swivel joint having a floater connected with it
which maintains said depth of immersion.
Dated this 20th day of December 1801

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Supply of Liquor to
Ammonla Stills.
We, JAMES JONES MELDRUM, and THOMAS FREDERICK MELDRUM, both of
Atlantic Works, City Road, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by, the following
statement:-
This invention relates to the supplying of liquor to ammonia. stills, by steam-jet
or other pumping-apparatus, and has mainly for its object to feed or supply the
liquor at a constant rate to the still.
In the operation of, or according to this invention, the level of liquor in a vessel
interposed between the forcing or supplying apparatus, and the still to be supplied,
is caused or adapted to regulate or control the rate of feed of the liquor to such
still.
In one example of apparatus by which the supply of liquor to an ammonia still
is carried out, a steam-jet or forcing or supply pump is employed as the means of
lifting and supplying the liquor. Between this pump and the still. an interposed
vessel is provided, and into it the pump forces the liquor. The variation of level
in the vessel due to slightly irregular feed or other cause, is made or adapted to
effect a reflux of liquor to the forcing or lifting apparatus or feed tank or well, and
a practically constant head therein (namely, sufficiently constant to give a regular
feed) is obtained by causing such very small variations of level in said supply vessel
to effect the reflux of liquor specified. To effect this reflux of liquor, a float
directly or indirectly connected with a liquor controlling valve or device, may be
employed with advantage, small variations of level being adapted to actuate the
float and the reflux valve connected therewith.
The liquor is fed from the governing vessel to the still by gravity, and the rate
of feed thereto is regulated by a suitable cock or valve.
In pumping or raising gas liquor, where tar is present, we sometimes use in
connection with the suction or intake pipe, means for maintaining the inlet orifice of
such pipe always only a few inches below the top of the liquor, and thereby obviate
the risk of pumping tar instead of liquor. A convenient means for maintaining
this depth of immersion of the suction pipe inlet orifice, consists of a flexible tube,
or metal tube having a swivel joint with a float connected to it which maintains said
depth of immersion.
In order that our invention may be clearly and fully understood, we have
annexed hereto drawings illustrative thereof, the description of which is below:-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing one arrangement of apparatus
according to our invention for feeding ammoniacal liquor to ammonia stills.
Figure 2 is a cross section and Figure 3 a sectional plan, illustrating another
arrangement according to the invention.
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional elevations illustrating two other arrangements
under the invention.
Referring generally to the drawings, a is an injector or liquor forcing apparatus;
b is the vessel which is interposed between the injector and the ammonia still to be
supplied is the float by which the feed of liquor is regulated; and d is the pipe
by which the liquor is conveyed to the still.
;
e is the pipe which carries the liquor from the injector a into the vessel b; f is
the supply or lift pipe through which the liquor is lifted from the supply tank or
well to the injector; and is the steam pipe to the injector.
In the arrangement of our invention shown in Figure 1, the variation of level in
the vessel controls the feed by allowing some of the liquor forced into it by the
injector, to be returned when the supply becomes too great and the float rises by

page_text: the excess of liquor delivered, the return of liquor to the injector being effected
through the pipe i, the flow through which is controlled by the valve k; whilst in
the arrangements shown in Figures 2 to 5, the action of the float (due to the
variation of head of liquor in 6) controls the quantity of liquor delivered to the
still by acting upon the steam supply of the injector, that is, gives it more or less
steam.
When using the apparatus shown in Figure 1, it may be adapted to constantly
supply more liquor to the tank & than is required to feed the still, in which case,
the valve would always be off its seat and a portion of the liquor would thus be
constantly returned to the injector a through the pipe ; whilst only the exact
quantity required to be fed to the still would be drawn up the supply pipe f. In
some cases the return of liquor may be conducted to the ordinary supply tank or
well.
j
The cover ', shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, may be used in some cases for
closing the tank, a pipe in such cases being provided and connected with the still
in order that the pressure of the still should exist on the surface of the liquid in
the vessel b.
Li
The mode of acting upon the steam supply of the injector a through the float c ;
in the manner mentioned with reference to Figures 2 to 5, is, in the arrangement
shown in Figures 2 and 3, effected through a lever c' connected with the float c;
a shaft mounted in the vessel b and supporting c'; a lever c³ fixed on c* outside
the vessel; and a lever a mounted on the injector a and connected with the
lever c, by which the steam to the injector a is controlled.
The means of regulating the steam to the nozzles of the injector may be of any
known suitable kind used in injectors, and would be connected to the lever a' in any
known suitable way.
In
In the arrangements of our invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 the pipe d in
lieu of being in direct communication with the vessel b, as in Figures 1 and 2, is
only indirectly connected therewith by being connected to the delivery pipe e.
these cases, the difference of level varies in the vessel through the different
quantities of liquor being supplied to the still o and the concomitant variations of
pressure in the delivery pipes thereof, and the float c and injector steam controlling
lever a will be thereby operated similarly to that set forth in Figures 2 and 3.
In Figure 4 the float c and lever a¹ are connected through or by a cord or band m
passing over the pulley n; while in Figure 5 the connection of c and a¹ is direct,
by the cord m, i.e. no wheel n is employed.
In Figures 2 to 5 a weight a' is attached to the end of the lever a¹ and serves to
exert a downward pressure thereon.
Instead of using a cord and weight for actuating the levers a', a rod capable of
acting in compression as well as in tension may be employed in the arrangements
shewn in Figures 2 and 5.
One effect produced by our invention is that the overhead storage tank usually
employed for feeding ammonia liquor to stills, is dispensed with, and in lieu of this
tank and the usual intervening feed tank, we employ the single vessel b, herein
specified, which is placed at such a level as will cause the liquor to flow in the
required manner.
Although we have described our invention particularly with reference to the
supplying of ammonia stills with ammoniacal liquor, it will be plain that it may be
applied to the supplying of other liquids to other apparatus needing a constant
supply, such as to the supplying of steam generators with water; in which case
the pipe d would constitute the water delivery pipe, and the pipe would be
connected to the steam space of the steam generator.
It will also be seen that although the drawings herewith annexed shew only the
invention working in connection with an injector or steam jet pump, the
arrangement would work equally well with any other suitable feeding or pumping
device.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim in respect of this invention is
1. In the supplying of liquids to ammonia stills, or to other apparatus, effecting
a constant supply or regulation of the feed by forcing the liquid into a vessel
interposed between the forcing apparatus and the still or other apparatus being
supplied, and employing a float in such vessel and adapting it to be acted upon by
the level of the liquid in said vessel; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. Apparatus for feeding ammonia stills or other apparatus with liquid, com-
prising an injector; a vessel connected with the discharge or delivery pipe of the
injector; and a float, acted upon by the liquid in said vessel and adapted to control
the supply or delivery of liquid to said still or similar apparatus.
3. The apparatus for supplying liquid to ammonia stills or other apparatus,
having its parts arranged as set forth respectively with reference to and shown
in Figure 1; Figures 2 and 3; Figure 4; and Figure 5.
Dated this 28th day of September 1892
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.