Improvements in or connected with Air Compressing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb.,
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Air Compressing Apparatus.
I, JAMES BRUCE, residing at Westchester Ave., Wakefield, in the City of New
York, County and State of New York, United States of America, Physician, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows.
This invention relates to means for operating light machinery by means of
compressed air, and the object thereof is to provide an improved apparatus for
this purpose which is simple in construction and operation, and comparatively
inexpensive.
In the practice of my invention I provide a compressed air receptacle through
the top of which is passed an upright water pipe which extends nearly to the
bottom of the receptacle, and of the upper end of which is in communication
with a water tank.
I also provide an air pump of any desired form of construction, and said air
pump may be operated by wind power or any suitable motor, and the air pump
is in communication with the air receptacle by means of a pipe which communi-
cates therewith, near the top thereof, and said air receptacle is also provided with
pipe, which communicates with the top thereof, and which in practice, is also
in communication with the machinery to be operated.
The object of the water tank and the pipe which projects downwardly into
the compressed air receptacle is to provide means whereby the air in the air re-
ceptacle may be maintained at a predetermined or suitable pressure at all times,
and the length of this pipe is so regulated that if for any reason the air pump
should fail to supply a proper pressure of air within the compressed air receptacle,
the water from the tank with which said water pipe communicates, will rise in
the air receptacle and thus compress the air therein.
It will be understood that the air receptacle may be of any desired size, and
the water tank may also be of any preferred size and form, and the water pipe or
the length thereof may be so regulated as to provide the exact amount of pressure
required within the air receptacle.
In practice I prefer to make the air receptacle very large in proportion to
the rest of the apparatus, in order that a large quantity of air can be stored
therein under pressure, and the air in said receptacle is kept at the same pres-
sure whether said receptacle be full or nearly empty, by means of the water pipe
which communicates therewith; and which extends nearly to the bottom there-
of, and as hereinbefore stated, the length of this pipe may be regulated to any
desired extent, and in the operation of the apparatus when the air pump is in
full operation, the pressure of the air within the air receptacle, will be increased
thereby, and the water will be forced upwardly through the water pipe; and if
for any reason the air pump should not work so as to keep the proper supply of
air within the air receptacle, the pressure of the water will raise, the air within
said receptacle, and maintain a proper pressure thereof.
By means of this apparatus I am enabled to overcome the chief objection to

page_text: the use of air as a motor for machinery which results from the uncertainty and
.ever varying force thereof; and it will be apparent that the relative sizes of the
various parts of my improved apparatus may be regulated to any desired extent.
Dated this 18th day of February 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE
40 Chancery Lane London W.C. Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Air Compressing Apparatus.
I, JAMES BRUCE, residing at Westchester Ave., Wakefield, New York, in the
County of New York, and State of New York, United States of America, Ameri-
can Physician do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what man-
ner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement.
This invention relates to means for operating light machinery, by means of
compressed air, and the object thereof is to provide an improved apparatus for
this purpose which is simple in construction and operation, and comparatively
inexpensive.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, said drawing being a diagramatic side view
of my improved apparatus with part of the construction shown in section.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, the separate parts of iny
imrpovement are designated by letters of referonce, and in the practice of my
invention I provide a compressed air receptacle A, through the top of which
extends an upright water tube B, which extends nearly to the bottom of the
receptacle A, and the upper end of which is in comuiunication with a water
tank C.
I also provide an air pump 1), of any desired form or construction, and said
air pump may be operated by wind power or by any suitable motor, and the air
pump D is in communication with the receptacle A, by means of a pipe E, which
communicates with the top of said receptacle A, and said receptacle A, is also
provided with a pipe F, which communicates with the top thereof, and which
in practice is also in communication with the machinery to be operated, said
machinery being not shown.
The object of the water tank C, and the pipe B, is to provide means whereby
the air in the receptacle A, may be maintained at a predetermined or suitable
pressure at all times, and the length of the pipe B, is so regulated that whenever
by any reason, the air pump shall fail to supply a proper pressure of air within
the receptacle A, the water in the tank C, will rise to the receptacle A, and thus
compress the air therein.
It will be understood that the receptacle A, may be of any desired size, and
the receptacle or tank C, may also be of any preferred size, and the pipe B, or
the length thereof may be so regulated as to provide the exact amount of pres-
sure required for the receptacle A.
In practice I prefer to make the sir receptacle A, very large in proportion to
the rest of the apparatus, in order that a large quantity of air can be stored in
it under pressure, and the air in said receptacle is kept at the same pressure
whether the tank be full or nearly empty, by means of the water pipe which
communicates therewith, and which extends to the bottom thereof, and as here-
inbefore stated, the length of this pipe may be regulated to any desired extent,
and in the operation of the apparatus, when the air pump is in full operation,

page_text: the pressure of the air within the receptacle A, will be increased thereby, and the
water will be forced upwardly, through the water pipe B, and if for any reason
the air pump should not work, so as to keep a proper supply of air within the
receptacle A, the pressure of the water will raise the air within said receptacle,
and maintain a proper pressure thereof.
By means of this apparatus I am enabled to overcome the chief objection to
the use of air as a motor for machinery, which results from the uncertainty and
ever-varying force thereof; and it will be apparent that the relative sizes f
the various parts of my improved apparatus may be regulated to any desir.
extent, or so as to suit the necessities of any particular case.
My invention is not limited to the material from which my improved air
pressure apparatus is made; and it will be apparent that changes in, and modi-
fications of the construction herein described, may be made without departing
from the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing its advantages.
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 is:
1. An air pressure apparatus, comprising a compressed air chamber, an air
pump or forcing device which is in communication therewith, a pipe which is
also in communication with said compressed air chamber, and by means of which
air under pressure is supplied for use, and a water pipe which passes vertically
through the top of said chamber, and which extends to near the bottom thereof,
said pipe being in communication at its upper end with a water supply or tank,
substantially as shown and described.
2. The herein described air pressure apparatus, the same consisting of a
suitable compressed air receptacle, an air forcing apparatus which communicates
with the top thereof, a pipe which communicates with the top of said receptacle,
and which is designed to supply the air for use, and a pipe which extends
vertically through the top of said receptacle, and nearly to the bottom thereof,
and the upper end of which is in communication with a water tank or receptacle,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 11th day of October 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE
40 Chancery Lane London W.C. Agents.